Box Score NEW ORLEANS ? New Orleans started the game with a 12-0 run and never looked back in cruising to a 65-60 win over visiting Denver in first-round action of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday at the Human Performance Center.
Bo McCalebb had 20 points, and Kyndall Dykes added 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting as the Privateers (19-12) advanced to Sunday's 12:30 p.m. quarterfinal matchup at top-seed and tournament-host South Alabama.
UNO snapped a three-game losing streak at home in defeating Denver (11-19) for the third time this season. It is the first time UNO has defeated a team three times in one season since UNO pulled the trifecta against Denver in 1999-2000.
Kyle Lewis led Denver with 11 points. The Pioneers dropped their 31st consecutive road game.
UNO put the game away early. The Pioneers did not get on the scoreboard until Nate Rohnert's layup with 13:20 remaining in the first half. Denver never got closer than five the rest of the way.
The Pioneers shot just 33 percent and made more turnovers (11) than field goals (seven) in the first half.
UNO, which led by as many as 17 in the second half, shot 52 percent overall and 54 percent in the second half.
The Pioneers fell to 0-11 all-time at UNO.
The Privateers also improved to 4-0 this season against schools that run the “Princeton-style” offense.
