Box Score UNO-CC Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half on way to a 91-77 victory over Concordia-Selma on Saturday afternoon at Lakefront Arena.
Five different scorers reached double-figures for UNO (10-8), as the squad snapped a four-game losing streak.
Lovell Cook poured in 18 points to lead the Privateer roster.
Brandon Knight and
Antonio Holmes scored 13 points apiece with
Brandon Canady and
Benjamin James contributing 11 and 10 points, respectively.
James' total was a career-high for the freshman guard, who became the 12
th player on the roster to reach double-figures this season for head coach
Mark Slessinger.
“I was very excited that we had guys step up again today and have good days,” said Slessinger. “Freshman
Benjamin James came in and had a good contribution with 10 points and a 6 of 6 showing from the free throw line.”
“Today was a good step for Benjamin as he has been a good worker and I was excited for him to have such a good day in a team victory.”
CC (5-12) was led in defeat by Travis Rasco's 22 points. John Nixon added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who dropped a 93-86 result to the Privateers in Selma, Ala. on Dec. 16.
Nixon scored the first eight points for CC, who jumped out to an 8-2 advantage.
The first six points for UNO came from Cook as the Hornets lead grew to 13-6, their largest edge of the contest. A
Colby Barnes basket at the 14:06 mark provided the Privateers their first score from a different player in the contest.
With the Hornets leading 15-8 with 12:42 before the break, UNO made its move. Holmes scored four straight points during a 12-3 run that provided the Privateers their first lead at 20-18 with 8:58 to go.
The rest of the opening half featured six more lead changes between the teams with a pair of Knight free throws with 44 seconds left sending UNO into the half ahead 37-35.
As the second half began, the momentum swung in favor of the host Privateers as four different players scored baskets during a 10-3 UNO run.
When
Darrell Williams drained a three-pointer from the corner with 11:23 left in the contest, the Privateers moved ahead by 11 and would not see their advantage slip back into single digits for the remainder of the game.
“We came out with a lot more energy in the second half and were really able to execute better offensively and get more of the shots that we wanted to get,” said Slessinger.
The team's effort in the second half on the offensive end benefited from CC posting 12 of their 20 miscues over the final 20 minutes of the game.
UNO also shot 22 of 23 from the charity stripe, which featured a perfect 11 of 11 effort in the opening half.
“We have been working hard the entire year on our free throws and it is great to have a payoff like that, where we shoot with such confidence,” said Slessinger. “That will be the difference in us winning some more games throughout the season.”
The Privateers will close out their current four-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. against Champion Baptist at Lakefront Arena.
