Box Score UNO v B-CU Box Score
Post Game Press Conference Video • Nelson • Slessinger
NEW ORLEANS – Bethune-Cookman rallied late in the second half for a 71-65 victory over the New Orleans Privateers on Thursday night at Lakefront Arena.
Trailing 58-46 with 6:18 to go, B-CU (1-2) embarked on a 14-0 run that changed the momentum and ultimately, the result of the contest.
The Wildcats' Adrien Coleman scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the second half while accumulating a double-double effort by adding 10 rebounds. B-CU received double-figures from three other players including Alex Smith, who netted 14 points and eight rebounds.
UNO (1-2) seemed to be on the verge of getting back in the win column when
Max Banchy connected on his second three-pointer of the contest to open the second half, giving the squad a 36-29 advantage.
The Privateers kept their lead in double-figures for most of the second half before the Wildcats made their big push. A Smith basket with 3:57 left in the contest pulled B-CU pulled within one of the hosts.
The Wildcats would then go ahead for the first time since a 7-6 first half lead when Ricky Johnson connected on a three-pointer capping a 14-0 run with 3:09 to go. UNO forward
Cory Dixon ended the run with a lay-up with 2:45 left to knot the game at 60-all.
The Privateers' last lead came on a pair of
Lovell Cook free throws with 1:48 left in the contest. B-CU responded with five straight points to put the game out of reach.
For a total of 34:52 of the contest, UNO was in the driver's seat.
On the wrong side of double-digit deficits in the first 10 minutes in their last two outings, the Privateers trailed 7-6 before scoring 14 straight points on a run started by a Cook jumper at the 16:46 mark.
Cook scored a team-high 18 points in the game for head coach
Mark Slessinger's squad, which included 12 first half points on 6 of 7 shooting. Cook posted six points during the spurt which featured 8 of 10 shooting by UNO.
On the other side of the floor, B-CU missed nine straight shots during the run, a stretch that claimed 5:11 off the clock. The visiting Wildcats would get a final run in, scoring 20 of the half's final 33 points to get within 33-27 at the half.
Not to be overlooked,
Rarlensee Nelson factored heavily into the final 20 minutes for UNO's offense. Of the squad's 11 field goals after the half, Nelson was responsible for assists on nine made baskets.
After distributing five assists in the opening half, Nelson reached double-digits for the game before 10 additional minutes had passed in the second half and finished with a career-high 14. Nelson's previous high of 10 assists was set last February against Champion Baptist.
The Privateers will return to Lakefront Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 20 to close out their season-opening four-game homestand against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will occur following the Lady Privateers' contest against Arkansas-Monticello.
