NJIT Highlanders (9-9) at New Orleans Privateers (4-12)
Monday, Jan. 21, 2012 • 7 p.m. CST • Lakefront Arena • WGSO 990 AM
Live Stats • Live Video • UNO Twitter • Facebook Event
UNO Game Notes
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Privateers will host NJIT on Monday at 7 p.m. at Lakefront Arena in the first meeting between the two institutions.
Monday's contest will feature live stats and video through UNOPrivateers.com. The game will also be broadcast on WGSO 990 AM and WGSO.com.
UNO dropped to 4-12 on the season with a 95-71 loss to Rice this past Saturday on the road. The Privateers had 19 turnovers in the contest while allowing the Owls to hit at a 61.3 percent clip from the field.
Head coach
Mark Slessinger had positives to take from the contest, including the team's collective 93.3 percent performance from the charity stripe. It marked a season-high for UNO.
Lovell Cook,
Eddie Denard and
Rarlensee Nelson each went 4-for-4 at the line during a night in which the Privateers extended its streak of games making 70 or more percent of its free throws to three straight contests.
The remaining two starters –
Maurice County and
Tradarrius McPhearson – also continued their offensive growth, a sign of the program's development on the offensive side of the floor as the season wears on.
County is averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals in his two starts this season. McPhearson has netted at least seven points in three straight appearances while shooting at a 50 percent clip during the same stretch.
Monday's opponent NJIT (9-9, 2-0 Great West Conference) fell 54-53 to Penn on Thursday night in their most recent outing. The Highlanders' loss stopped a three-game winning streak that included league victories over Utah Valley and Chicago State.
NJIT enters the game against UNO seeking to establish a school-record with their fifth non-conference wins against a Division I foe. The Highlanders became NCAA Division I members in 2006 and are known for their NCAA Division I record 51-game losing streak that was snapped by head coach Jim Engles in his first season.
Engles has steadily improved the program with NJIT rallying behind the double-figure scoring of Chris Flores (17.1 points per game) and Ryan Woods (14.3) to accomplish the squad's current .500 record.
The Highlanders and Privateers will meet again on Feb. 23 in Newark, N.J.
UNO will hit the road following Monday's game for a contest on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. CT against Air Force. The meeting with the Falcons will end a stretch of three games in five days for the Privateers.
HALFTIME PERFORMANCE BY THE COSMONAUGHTIES
UNO will welcome the Star-Steppin' Cosmonaughties to Lakefront Arena on Monday night as the halftime entertainment. The performance marks the Lakefront Arena debut for the dance team.
The official dance team of Krewe de Lune, the Cosmonaughties will be bringing their singular style and flair to the Krewe of Pygmalion parade this Saturday on the Uptown route. Other appearances for the group include the Krewe de Lune Space Ball on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Healing Center and the Box of Wine Parade on Feb. 10.
