TROY, Ala. -- Michael Vogler scored 19 points and was one of four Trojans in double figures as Troy held off New Orleans 78-76 on Thursday at Trojan Arena.
Vernon Taylor had 14 points off the bench, and Yamene Coleman had 11 points and 10 rebounds as Troy (6-5, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference) won its league opener.
Senior guard
Billy Humphrey had a career-high 31 points for UNO (5-5, 0-2) thanks to six 3-pointers. The Georgia transfer had 21 points in the first half.
Charles Carmouche added 17 points, including three treys. Humphrey and Carmouche combined to go 9-for-12 from 3-point range, and UNO made 14 3-pointers overall.
The tally was one shy of a school record, but the Privateers still lost their third straight contest.
"Our guys really worked the ball well around the perimeter against their zone," said UNO head coach
Joe Pasternack. "I thought this was a breakthrough for us. We played hard for 40 minutes. We just have to play a consistent 40 minutes."
UNO overcame a flat start and was down 27-11 with 8:47 left in the first half. But the Privateers closed the frame by outscoring Troy 24-6 to grab a 35-33 halftime lead.
Humphrey hit four 3-pointers, as UNO was 7-for-11 beyond the arc.
Carmouche and Humphrey hit back-to-back treys to start the second half and led 41-33 with 19:07 remaining. UNO led 52-50 with 10 minutes to play before Troy went on a 9-0 run to give the hosts a lead it would never lose.
UNO was victimized by 19 turnovers, including 14 in the first half.
"Our games are going to be possession by possession," Pasternack said. "We have to do a better job of making free throws and not giving the ball away."
UNO will return to action against Southern Miss on Monday at the South Mississippi Christmas Classic in Gulfport. The Privateers will also face North Florida and Canisius in the three-day event.
