New Orleans Overcomes 11-Point Deficit, Socks Salukis 56-52

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AUDIO: NATE FRYE 3-POINT SHOT
AUDIO: FINAL POSSESSION

CARBONDALE, Ill. – With a steal and a three-pointer from sophomore Nate Frye, the New Orleans men's basketball team overcame an 11-point second-half gap to take a 56-52 road win over Southern Illinois in thrilling fashion on Friday night.
 
With the Salukis up two points, 48-46, with just 3:30 to play, the Privateers, now 3-4 on the year after earning the team's first road win, snapped back with two free throws from Tevin Broyles that tied things up at 48.
 
Christavious Gill then went on to complete the old-fashioned three-point play, giving New Orleans the lead at 51-48 before Nate Frye made it a two-possession game, coming up with a steal and a fast-break three to set the Privateers up by four.
 
Southern Illinois, now 7-5 following the loss, brought it back down to a one-point game with a chance to take the lead, but a missed three and a timely defensive rebound from Gill sent the guard to the line where he hit two free throws to seal the deal for New Orleans.
 
"It was a great game across the board," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "We kept talking about these guys growing up and it's exciting to see that. When you have the support from up top that believes in your kids and that we're doing the right things its pretty fun. This is a good ball club and credit SIU for doing things the right way. This is a great win for New Orleans, for the whole university, I wish they all could have been a part of it."
 
It was a good move by them going to the zone and getting us out of our comfort zone. But we overcame that and got back in a rhythm and being perfect at the free-throw line helped us. I'm just glad to see us finally break through."
 
Kevin Hill got the Privateers rolling early in the first, capitalizing on the steal from teammate Frye with a jumper to put New Orleans up out of the gate, 2-0.
 
The junior then put in a pair of freebies three minutes later, giving New Orleans its largest lead of the half at 6-2. Travin Thibodeaux broke what was then a 4-0 SIU run at the 14:51 mark, dumping in a short-range jump shot to bust a 6-6 tie, putting the Privateers back up by two.
 
Colton Weisbrod threw in a layup, adding in two more following the Thibodeaux make, but an 11-2 run from the Salukis put the home team up by five, 17-12 at the midway point in the first.
 
Terrance Syon and Tevin Broyles then went off for back-to-back field goals, making it a one-point game at 17-16 SIU with under eight to play, but SIU again went on the run, going up by 10 at 26-16 late in the first.
 
Two more free throws from Hill and a triple from Michael Zeno kept things close before the break, ending the first period at 29-21 SIU.
 
Out of the half it was all SIU as the Salukis jumped out to their largest lead of the night at 36-25 after a made field goal just four minutes in.
 
Gill then brought the Privateers back to life with a three-pointer off of the Frye assists, making it a six point game at 36-30 following the break with 15 to go in regulation.
 
A layup from Syon and another triple from Gill then cut the Saluki lead back down to just one point before a Broyles basket tied things up at 39. Broyles then gave New Orleans its first lead since early in the first as he put in a free throw.
 
The squads then played back-and-forth ball up until the 3:30 mark when Broyles again connected from the stripe, setting up the final push for the Privateer win.
 
Hill was solid on both sides of the ball, scoring eight points to go with his eight rebounds in 31 minutes played. On the scoring side of things, Broyles and Gill each finished up with 11. Frye aided in the effort with five assists.
 
As a team, New Orleans shot 48-percent from the field to go with a perfect performance from the line, going 14-for-14 at the stripe.
 
The Privateers are back in action this Monday, Dec. 22, as the team wraps-up a three-game road trip at Indiana in Assembly Hall.

To keep up with the latest New Orleans men' basketball news, follow the team on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_MBB or by liking New Orleans Privateers on Facebook.