NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans freshman guard Carl Blair recorded the second triple double in school history to help the Privateers top Houston Baptist 79-67 on Saturday at Lakefront Arena.
Blair had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists - making him the first Privateer to record the feat since former NBA standout Earvin Johnson on Dec. 29, 1992 against Texas A&M.
The Houston, Texas product had nine assists in the first half and clinched the triple double with a rebound with 47 seconds left.
Senior guard Billy Humphrey led UNO (5-2) with 23 points, while reserve guard Devin McDonald had 12 points. McDonald was part of a Privateer bench that outscored HBU's reserves 30-7.
UNO also held HBU (1-7) to 38 percent shooting, including 32 percent in the second half.
The Privateers also out-rebounded the Huskies 45-37.
"We defended really well, particularly in the second half," said UNO head coach Joe Pasternack. "We played defense and we rebounded, and that gave us an opportunity to run. That's why we scored the amount of points we did."
UNO jumped ahead quickly in the first half thanks to Humphrey. The Georgia transfer had 19 points during the frame and helped the Privateers to a 47-35 halftime advantage.
The Huskies cut the margin to 49-44 with 15:29 to play. But the Privateers went on an 8-0 run and held HBU without a field goal during a 4:26 stretch to grab a double-figure lead.
The Privateers never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 16 in the second half.
UNO will take this week off due to final exams and will return to action next Saturday at Southern.
