Box Score UNO-UTPA Box Score
Post-Game Interviews - Hill/Nelson - Slessinger
NEW ORLEANS – Late nights at Lakefront Arena have proved to be no problem for the New Orleans men's basketball team, a 75-73 overtime winner over Texas-Pan American on Wednesday night.
The victory was the second in overtime this season for UNO (7-13) which defeated NJIT in triple-overtime on Jan. 21 at Lakefront Arena.
The Privateers unexpectedly had to rally after what looked like a game-ending offensive rebound by
Tradarrius McPhearson with 17.5 seconds left. With UNO ahead 65-63, McPhearson was whistled for a flagrant foul after swinging his elbows.
The free throws and the ensuing possession allowed UTPA (12-12) the opportunity to score the next four points, including a Brandon Provost three-pointer with 3.7 seconds to go in regulation.
With one last chance to tie the game, Privateer freshman
Kevin Hill, a product of John Ehret, was fouled with 0.1 seconds left keeping the hosts' head above water. Hill calmly drained both free throws to send the contest into overtime.
UNO never trailed in the extra period, outscoring UTPA 8-6. McPhearson scored four of the points with
Cory Dixon sealing the victory with a defensive rebound with just less than four seconds left in the game.
Prior to the final seconds of the contest, the Privateers were forced to rally from a nine-point deficit with 15:17 left in the game. The Broncs' advantage came following a 9-0 run, producing a 42-33 lead for the guests.
UNO remained behind before tying the contest on a
Lovell Cook lay-up with 6:19 remaining in the contest. UTPA responded with four straight points and after several opportunities, the Privateer finally seized the lead at 65-63 on a Dixon lay-up with 42 second to go.
The Dixon basket was followed by a missed Aaron Urbanus three-pointer that led to the McPhearson rebound and subsequent foul.
UNO previously managed to lead 29-27 at the half. The Privateer advantage came after an 11-1 run to overcome a 24-16 deficit with 6:15 remaining until the intermission. UNO's 27-25 lead with 2:05 left in the first half was the team's first of the game.
Rarlensee Nelson was the top scorer for UNO, scoring a career-high 21 points to go along with eight assists. Cook added 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting with Dixon making all six field goal attempts on way to 15 points and eight rebounds.
UTPA's leading scorer was Provost with 24 points, a mark that included six three-pointers in 10 attempts. Jesus Delgado and Shaquille Hines scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The Privateers will continue their current homestand on Saturday at 12 p.m. with a visit from future Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist. The season's final home contest is Feb. 18 against Central Baptist.
NOTES
UNO improved to 3-0 in games decided by three points or less. The other victories were the 96-94 triple-overtime win over NJIT and the team's 79-76 victory over Nicholls State (Dec. 12)
With eight assists on Wednesday,
Rarlensee Nelson has totaled five or more assists in 14 of the team's 20 games. Nelson entered the contest ranked No. 11 in Division I with 6.8 assists per game.
Cory Dixon's 15-point effort was the forward's eighth in double-figures. Dixon's effort followed a 13-point showing in the previous game. On the season, the forward has produced double-figure performances in back-to-back games on four occasions. The 15 points also matched a career-high, equaling Dixon's mark against Southern Illinois on Nov. 12.
Lovell Cook shot 7 of 13 for the contest. The effort was the 16
th time in 20 games in which the senior forward has shot 50 percent or better from the field. Cook is now shooting 57.5 percent on the season.
