Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - UALR scored the final 12 points of the
first half, before scoring the first six of the second half to put together an
18-0 run, providing the push needed for the Trojans to defeat the University of
New Orleans 80-54 on Thursday night at the Jack Stephens Center.
UALR (21-7, 14-3 Sun Belt) led 14-13 in the first half,
before scoring 25 of the last 34 points of the opening half to gain a 17-point
advantage heading into the break.
The Trojans would continue their scoring
splurge, putting up the first six points of the second half to extend their lead
to 23, a margin that UNO (11-18, 6-12 SBC) would not be able to overcome.
Matt Mouzy led UALR with 12 points while Brandon Patterson
added another 10 as the host squad received points from all 11 players who saw
time on the floor. Shane Edwards narrowly missed a double-double with eight
points and a game-high nine rebounds.
With the loss, the 2008-09 edition of the Privateers became
just the second team, joining the 1979-80 squad in not winning a single road
game in conference play. The setback, the largest since a 89-63 loss to
Mississippi State during the 2006-07 season, also guaranteed that UNO will
travel on the road for the first round of the conference tournament.
Kyndall Dykes topped the 20 point plateau for the fourth
straight game, leading the Privateers with 20 points. Obi Ikeakor came off the
bench, adding 10 points on 5 of 5 shooting.
UALR scored the final 12 points of the first half to enter
the break with a 39-22 advantage as UNO went without a field goal for the last
5:25 of the opening half.
The Privateer shooting woes continued into the second half
as UALR's advantage would grow to 23 at 45-22 as the Trojans came out of the
break with six straight points before Charles Carmouche made a free throw. A possession later, Carmouche made the first field goal for UNO in over eight and a
half minutes.
By that point, UALR was up 46-25 and the closest the
Privateers would get in the second half was a 14-point deficit with 12:09
remaining in the contest.
The game saw four early lead changes with UNO getting
within one of reclaiming the lead, down 14-13. The Trojans would then go on a
13-4 run to take a 27-17 advantage. A T.J. Worley three-point play would start a
string of five consecutive points for UNO before they were unable to make a
field goal for the remainder of the half.
"Our guys really competed and they just went on runs and we
could not sustain it," said Privateers head coach Joe Pasternack.
UALR scored the first seven points of the contest before
the UNO went on a 9-1 run to take a lead at 9-8.
The Privateers will await results from around the
conference on Saturday night before finding out their destination for
Wednesday's SBC tournament first round game.
