Box Score UNO-SIU Box Score
Post Game Press Conferences
Slessinger • Dixon
NEW ORLEANS – An early deficit proved too much to overcome for New Orleans as Southern Illinois led wire-to-wire in a 72-55 victory at Lakefront Arena on Monday night.
UNO (1-1) forced 28 SIU (1-0) turnovers in the contest, the most all-time for a team coached by
Mark Slessinger. The total matched the high of 28 set last November against Southeastern (Fla.).
The Privateers had their own share of miscues in the contest, including five in the game's first minutes to fall behind 11-0 against the Salukis.
Max Banchy connected on a three-pointer for UNO's first field goal with 15:08 remaining in the opening half as the hosts cut the lead to single digits.
The Salukis continued to add to their lead, building their advantage to a first half high of 21 points with 7:07 to go before the break. UNO trimmed the deficit to 14 before SIU with a 48.6 percent clip from the field entered the half with a 42-26 lead.
The Privateers sought to break into deficit with a strong start to the second half.
UNO held the Salukis off the scoreboard for the first 4:09 after the break before the guests embarked on an 8-0 run. Trailing by 24 midway through the second half, the Privateers scored six in a row – all on free throws.
A 7-0 UNO run late in the half cut the deficit to 13 at 62-49, the closest margin of deficit for the Privateers in the second half.
Jeff Early notched a double-double to lead SIU, scoring 27 points alongside 12 rebounds. Early's totals included 15 points and seven rebounds at the half. Desmar Jackson added an additional 17 points for the Salukis.
Cory Dixon was the Privateers' lead scorer with 15 points.
Corey Blake was second on the team with 10 points while
Rarlensee Nelson dished out six assists for a second straight contest.
The season-opening four-game homestand for the Privateers will continue on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman. BC is a member of the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
