Box Score UNO-TTU Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans turned 26 turnovers into 31 points to defeat Tennessee Temple 70-57 in the opening game of the Hoops for Hope Classic on Monday night at Lakefront Arena.
UNO (3-2) was able to overcome a steady 39.3 percent shooting performance by TTU (3-5) to grab their third consecutive victory after starting the season with two straight losses.
The second half success continued for a third straight game for the Privateers, who shot 51.7 percent over the final 20 minutes. In comparison, the Crusaders who shot 50 percent in the first half watched their shooting dip to 38.5 percent from the field.
The effort in the last 20 minutes was bolstered by a 21-2 advantage in points off of turnovers in the second half, helping UNO overcome a 29-27 deficit at the break.
“It was an incredible team effort tonight, put forth by our team,” said UNO head coach
Mark Slessinger. “We continue to buy in that our strength is playing and pulling for our teammate more than ourselves.”
“We had nobody that put together a great complete game tonight, but we had great team complete game.”
The advantage in the second half was a change of pace for the Privateers, as TTU led for most of the first half. The Crusaders scored the first four points of the contest and made five of their first six attempts from the field to take an early 13-7 advantage.
TTU held their edge until a
Lovell Cook jumper with 3:11 in the opening half put UNO ahead 23-21.
The Cook basket was part of an 8-0 run by UNO, which lost sight of the lead in the final minute before the half as TTU scored the final four points to enter the break 29-27.
Lovell Cook was the leading scorer for UNO with 13 points, one of five different scorers in double-figures.
Generra Varmall added 12 points for the Privateers with
Albert Peterson contributing 11 points.
The pair of
Antonio Holmes and
Darrell Williams rounded out the double-digit scoring on the night with 10 points apiece.
TTU was led in defeat by Division II transfer Germiel Daniels, who totaled 20 points and 14 rebounds. The former Clayton State product scored 14 of his points in the first half and was joined in double-digits by Jarrett Smith, who added another 10 points for the game.
“Randy Lee does a great job coaching Tennessee Temple and it is a great program with incredible tradition,” said Slessinger of the program that has won multiple National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association national titles. “We are excited to be in this tournament and be able to represent the UNO campus, alumni and city this great Thanksgiving weekend with three games.”
UNO will continue play in the Hoops for Hope Classic on Friday at 4:30 at Fogelman Arena against San Diego. Tournament play resumes Saturday at Fogelman Arena against Tulane at 7 p.m. with a final game at Lakefront Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Alcorn State.
