Box Score NEW ORLEANS ? T.J. Worley scored a game-high 19 points ? 15 in the first half ? and was one of three scorers in double figures as host-New Orleans held off Southern 61-57 on a wet Saturday evening at Lakefront Arena.
The frontcourt tandem of Jaroslav Tyrna and Johann Mpondo scored 10 points each, and UNO (1-4) held the Jaguars (0-4) to 29 percent shooting in the second half to avoid an 0-5 start for the first time in school history.
The Privateers had a healthy lineup for the first time this season, as preseason All-Sun Belt Conference forward Kyndall Dykes made his first appearance of 2008-09. The senior was held to four points (2-of-9 from the field) and six rebounds.
UNO also had point guard Darrian McKinstry back in the lineup after the junior missed Wednesday's loss at Colorado State with an ankle injury.
Southern (0-4) got 12 points from senior guard Chris Davis, while Brian Talley had 10 points ? eight in the first half. The Jaguars were 1-for-10 from 3-point range in the second half.
“This was a just a huge win for us,” said UNO head coach Joe Pasternack. “We had a bunch of guys in the locker room talking about how this was their first D-I win. Southern is a team that shoots a lot of three's, and we did a good job with them ? especially in the second half.”
Despite the shooting woes, Southern made things interesting late. Trailing 59-52 with 2:30 remaining, the Jaguars got five straight points from reserve forward Tim Brown to cut the deficit to 59-57 with 1:29 to play.
The Jaguars had three chances to tie the game in the last 30 seconds, but Desmond Griffin missed a jumper and Davis had a putback blocked by Mpondo. Davis ended up with the loose ball, but Brown was called for traveling with 16 seconds left.
McKinstry made two free throws after SU was forced to foul, and the Jaguars could not score again. SU was 0-for-4 from the field in the final minute.
“Our matchup zone was very good in the second half but in the last few minutes they got some big offensive rebounds and scored,” said SU head coach Rob Spivery. “We couldn't score on a consistent basis in the second half and we couldn't get it down the floor.
“Our defense was good, and we are definitely improving. We just have to remain positive.”
UNO was held to 38 percent shooting overall ? 34 percent in the second half. The Privateers, who averaged nearly 21 turnovers per game in their last three contests, committed just 14 miscues.
UNO, meanwhile, scored 19 points off SU's 19 turnovers.
The Privateers will continue a three-game homestand at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against Tulane at Lakefront Arena.
