Box Score UNO-ASU Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans improved to 4-0 at Lakefront Arena with a 63-56 win over Alcorn State on Sunday in the final game of the Hoops for Hope Classic.
UNO (4-4) received a game-high 17 points from
Antonio Wertz. The Alma, Ga. native shot 8 of 11 from the field and added eight rebounds to pace the Privateers.
Lovell Cook scored nine points with the pair of
Rarlensee Nelson and
Albert Peterson contributing eight points apiece. UNO shot 43.9 percent from the field including a high of 45.7 percent in the first half.
Twann Oakley led ASU (1-4) with 16 points with the duo of Chris Brand and KeDorian Sullivan registering 10 points apiece. Brand and Sullivan rounded out double-doubles with Sullivan pulling down 11 boards with Brand another 10.
With the game knotted at seven early in the contest, UNO exploded to score 24 of the next 27 points to take a 31-10 lead.
The Privateers held ASU without a field goal starting at the 14:35 mark of the first half until KeDorian Sullivan connected on a lay-up with 4:34 remaining prior until the half. Before Sullivan's basket, the Braves had missed 14 consecutive attempts from the field.
The run provided an ample lift for UNO, which received points from 10 members of the roster during the opening half to enter the break with a 37-20 advantage.
The scoring from all corners in the first half was a change of pace from less than 24 hours prior when just three members of the Privateer roster scored during the opening half against Tulane.
“The team came out with incredible energy and really was firing on all cylinders,” said UNO head coach
Mark Slessinger. “We were unselfish and it allowed us to have a great half as a team.”
In the second half, ASU fought tirelessly to get within 10 of UNO.
A Wertz jumper with 17:44 left in the game gave the Privateers a 19-point advantage at 41-22. The Braves cut the deficit down to a single point at 47-46 with 8:09 remaining after producing a 24-6 run.
Peterson quickly provided the spark UNO needed to get control of the contest. The Peterson dunk led to a 10-0 run that gave the Privateers a 57-46 advantage.
ASU would not overcome the deficit as UNO snapped a nine-game losing streak against NCAA Division I schools. The win was their first since defeating ULM 82-73 on Feb. 18, 2010 in Monroe, La..
“We were really disappointed that we did not rebound the ball better in the second half,” said Slessinger. “Albert's offensive rebound that became a dunk really helped get our team energized, turning the momentum back our way.”
“We were excited to come out ahead against a really good basketball team. Alcorn has gotten better every day and should have a great year.”
Slessinger's team will turn their focus to a match-up against Dillard on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the second half of a doubleheader against the Bleu Devils. The Lady Privateers will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
“We are excited to be .500 after arguably one of the toughest schedules we can put together,” said Slessinger. “We'll go back to work tomorrow morning with practice and start focusing on playing a very well-coached Dillard team.”
