Box Score UNO-NJIT Box Score
Post Game Interviews -
Cook, Mack & McPhearson -
Slessinger
NEW ORLEANS –
Isaac Mack's jumper with 2.6 seconds lifted New Orleans to a 96-94 victory in triple overtime against NJIT on Monday night at Lakefront Arena.
The 15-foot jumper by Mack handed UNO (5-12) its third straight victory in the friendly confines of Lakefront Arena while bringing to a conclusion a game that saw 16 lead changes and 15 tie scores.
Before Mack became the hero at the end of the game, it was
Lovell Cook who allowed the Privateers to continue onward after NJIT (9-10) rallied from a 10-point deficit with 14:55 remaining in the contest.
Cook scored a career-high 32 points and played a huge part in a pair of UNO rallies. The senior forward connected on 3 of 4 attempts from the line in the final 11 seconds of regulations to tie the game at 68-all.
Cook's first two opportunities at the stripe were presented when Highlander forward Daquan Holiday was charged with a technical foul after hanging on the basket following a dunk that put NJIT ahead 68-65 with 11 seconds remaining.
Cook – who scored 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting in the extra periods – came through once more in the first overtime. With UNO down 77-73 with 18 seconds left in the period, Cook drained a three-pointer with nine seconds left and followed with a jumper at the 1.6 mark to create a second overtime with the score knotted at 78.
Tradarrius McPhearson played a pivotal role for Privateers in the second extra period, scoring five points and adding two assists. McPhearson, who ended up with 16 points in the game connected on a lay-up with 54 seconds remaining allowing UNO to move ahead 89-86 before a Ryan Woods three-pointer with 33 seconds left tied the game, pushing the game to a third overtime.
The two teams were tied on three different occasions in the final overtime period, the last tie coming on a Cook jumper with 54 seconds remaining. A missed jumper by Chris Flores with 28 seconds left provided the Privateers with their final possession which opened the door for the Mack game-winner.
Prior to the extra periods, it looked as if NJIT would complete their rally from a double-figure deficit.
The Highlanders trailed 40-30 with 14:55 remaining before pulling within three with 8:46 to go. NJIT then embarked on an 8-1 to run to take a 59-53 lead, which included their first advantage of the half. The Privateers outscored the guests 15-9 through the final buzzer of regulation, including the Cook free throws to force overtime.
UNO had entered the second half ahead 27-22. The Privateers held NJIT without a basket for 7:06 after trailing 10-5 with 14:59 remaining before the intermission. The Highlanders had four turnovers and missed three field goals during the stretch that lasted over seven minutes, which provided the hosts with the momentum to seize the early advantage.
In addition to Cook and McPhearson,
Rarlensee Nelson and
Eddie Denard reached double-figures. Nelson had his second career double-double with 12 points and 11 assists while Denard contributed 10 points.
For NJIT, Ryan Woods was the top scorer with 24 points while Flores also topped 20 points with a 22-point effort. PJ Miller scored 15 with Ky Howard rounding out the double-digit scorers with 11.
Next on the floor for the Privateers is a Wednesday night contest at Air Force. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT in a game which will end UNO's stretch of three games in five days.
NOTES
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Lovell Cook's 32 points were the most for a member of the Privateers since Zach Kinsley scored 31 points against Huntingdon on Dec. 22, 2010 at the Human Performance Center.
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UNO played its first overtime game since going two overtimes in a loss to Southeastern (Fla.) on Dec. 18, 2010.
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Historically, the Privateers have played three or more overtimes on five occasions with Monday's win improving the team to 4-1 in such occurrences… the previous 3OT or more games included Louisiana Tech (110-100, 3OT on Feb. 3, 1990), South Florida (75-73, 4OT on Feb. 8, 1979), Southern Miss (78-83, 4OT on Dec. 3, 2005) and Tulane (75-71, 4OT on Jan. 29, 1983).
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Rarlensee Nelson picked up his 10th assist of the contest with 17:28 remaining in the second half. Nelson has 10 or more assists in four games this year, last accomplishing the feat with 10 assists against Duquesne on Dec. 8.
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UNO's 27-22 lead at the half was the third of the season for the Privateers against an NCAA Division I squad, following intermission advantages against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 15) and Nicholls State (Dec. 12).
