Box Score MOBILE, Ala. ? South Alabama shot just 30 percent from the field but dominated the boards in a 56-53 win over New Orleans on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center.
DeAndre' Coleman had 16 points and Brandon Davis had 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds as USA (12-10, 5-6 Sun Belt Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak.
Davis helped the Jaguars record a 42-32 rebounding edge ? including 19 offensive boards. The effort led to 21 second-chance points as USA defeated the Privateers (9-13, 4-7) for the eighth straight time.
T.J. Worley had a career-high 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting for UNO, and Kyndall Dykes had 11 points (4-for-12 shooting). Jaroslav Tyrna had a career-high 12 rebounds.
The Privateers had just six scholarship players available for the second straight game. Ejike Hart (knee injury), Charles Carmouche (ankle), Johann Mpondo (foot) and Darrian McKinstry (suspension) were all missing for the second straight game.
Despite the limited roster, UNO made a strong rally to start the second half and overcome a 31-22 halftime deficit.
The Privateers opened the half with a 12-3 run in the first 5:03 to tie the game at 34-34. UNO grabbed its first lead of the game when Worley made a 3-pointer to make it 41-38 with 11:38 remaining.
USA, though, held the Privateers scoreless for the next 4:40 and went on an 8-0 spurt to regain a 46-41 advantage with 8:26 to play.
UNO fought back to tie it at 48-48 on a Tyrna free throw with 5:16 left. But UNO managed just one field goal in the last four minutes, and USA made five free throws in the final three minutes to hold on.
Despite the late offensive struggles, the Privateers still had a chance to steal the win in the closing seconds.
Down 54-53 with less than a minute to play, UNO used a solid defensive stand and forced Davis to miss a difficult shot before claiming the rebound.
The Privateers played for the final shot, but Worley's 3-point attempt from the top of the key missed the rim, and USA drained two free throws with 0.5 seconds left to close it out.
The Jaguars shot just 29 percent in the first half but still managed to build as much as an 11-point lead thanks to 13 offensive rebounds and 13 second-chance points.
The Privateers have not defeated USA since Jan. 8, 2005.
UNO will continue league play on Thursday, hosting Florida Atlantic in a 7 p.m. contest at Lakefront Arena.
For ticket information, please call 504-280-GAME or log on to UNOPrivateers.com.
