New Orleans Privateers (2-4) at Duquesne Redhawks (4-4)
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 • 6 p.m. CST • Palumbo Center
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UNO Game Notes • Duquesne Game Notes
PITTSBURGH – Following an eight-day break between games so the team could focus on fall term final examinations, the New Orleans Privateers return to the court to face Duquesne on Saturday at 6 p.m. CST.
Video and live stats of the contest are available through the GoDuquesne.com. Due to a programming conflict with radio, the host team will provide coverage of the contest on a free audio stream accessible through RedZoneMedia.com. All remaining Privateer basketball games will air on WGSO 990 AM.
Rarlensee Nelson has taken on a significant scoring role in the last two games for UNO (2-4). The Ville Platte, La. native netted a career-high 13 points at Nicholls on Nov. 26 before upping his total to 17 at Lakefront Arena against Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 29.
On the season, Nelson's 9.7 points per game rank behind team-leader
Lovell Cook (14.0) and just ahead of
Cory Dixon (8.3). Still ranked amongst the nation's leaders with 8.3 assists per game, Nelson filled his stat line against SEMO with five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Nelson's two steals tied Traddarius McPhearson for the team-high in the contest and played a role in forcing the Redhawks into 18 turnovers. This season, Privateer opponents are turning the ball over an average of 18.8 times per contest and with the exception of a game against Bethune-Cookman, the UNO defense has forced teams into 18 or more turnovers in each outing.
McPhearson has eight steals in the last three games to rank second behind
Corey Blake (10). Five other players on the roster have at least five steals through six contests, including Cook, Nelson, Dixon,
Eddie Denard and
Max Banchy.
The Privateers will seek to continue the trend against a Duquesne (4-4) squad that averages a shade under 16 turnovers a contest. The Dukes entered the week ranked 249
th out of 345 teams in miscues per game.
Duquesne's three-game win streak was snapped on Wednesday in a 66-45 loss to crosstown rival Pittsburgh, their 12
th straight defeat in the 'City Game'. The Dukes own wins over James Madison, Youngstown State and Maine at home, in addition to a victory at Appalachian State.
Sean Johnson is the leading scorer on first-year head coach Jim Ferry's squad with 11.9 points per game and is followed by Quevyn Winters with 10.3. Kadee Pantophlet is the top rebounder with five grabs off the glass per contest and is one of the six regulars averaging at least four rebounds an outing.
Saturday's meeting is the first between the two squads with UNO also set to face Duquesne's league rival Butler on Jan. 5. The Privateers are 9-17 all-time against the Atlantic-10, which includes a win on Dec. 28, 1993 against the late Yinka Dare and No. 21 ranked George Washington at Lakefront Arena.
Following the trip to the East Coast, UNO will return home for a Wednesday contest against Nicholls State with a 7 p.m. tip. The last home game of the 2012 calendar year will feature a special halftime performance by the 610 Stompers, the national anthem sung by UNO alumna Robin Barnes and in-game performances by the One Mind Brass Band.
