Box Score UNO-UNA Box Score
NEW ORLEANS –
Lovell Cook scored a career-high 21 points to lead the University of New Orleans to an 81-63 victory over North Alabama on Sunday afternoon at Lakefront Arena.
Cook shot 9 of 14 from the field to hit 21 points to eclipse his previous-high of 17 from two previous games for UNO (9-4). Cook scored 15 of his points in the first half for the Privateers, who won at home for the 14
th straight contest.
UNO benefitted from a season-high eight three-pointers, including four from
Darrell Williams. Williams scored 16 points with
Generra Varmall and
Antonio Holmes adding 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Antonio Wertz was the top rebounder for head coach
Mark Slessinger's squad with 13 rebounds. Wertz narrowly missed a double-double as he added nine points to his count.
“It was a phenomenal team effort that everybody bought in to that it would take the entire team to win tonight,” said Slessinger. “Our guys played incredibly unselfish and with great passion on the defensive end.”
UNA (6-3) was led by Theron Jenkins and Warrick Mastin with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The Lions' leading scorer Beaumont Beasley was held to seven points and 3 of 11.
Both teams could not find a shot at the start of the contest with UNA missing seven in a row while the Privateers were off the mark of their first four. The Lions were however making their free throws and jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
UNO responded with six straight to tie the game before UNA moved ahead with four in a row. The Lions would retain an advantage until a Cook jumper with 5:25 before the half put the Privateers ahead 29-28.
The lead change was the lone one of the contest for UNO, who would grow its lead to a first half high of five points at 39-34.
A three-pointer by Varmall at the buzzer provided a 44-40 margin at the break in favor of the hosts. Varmall's three-pointer capped a 51.5 percent effort from the floor for UNO in the opening half.
As the second half began, UNA was held without a field goal for the first 5:53, missing five straight field goals as the Privateers broke open a 56-43 advantage.
The Lions could not reel back in UNO, committing 11 turnovers and shooting 2 of 10 from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes. The Privateers used a 15-4 bench scoring advantage in the second half to ice the game with a Williams lay-up with 4:52 remaining pushing the advantage to a high of 22 points.
“North Alabama is an incredibly coached team with such a great tradition and history,” said Slessinger. “We knew they would be ready to come in here and play.”
UNO will turn its attention to the holiday break for the next nine days.
“I know our guys are excited about being able to see their families,” said Slessinger.” It is such a special time for them during a long college basketball season.”
“However, we know we have to come back and go play two really talented teams in North Texas and Colorado then return with home games against Gulf South power Christian Brothers and our city rival Xavier.”
Tip against North Texas is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 27 with Colorado on Dec. 28 in a game that will be televised on ROOT Sports at 8 p.m. CT.
