Privateers Dominant in 100-85 Win Over Pioneers

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans men's basketball team rallied behind a strong offensive team performance on Saturday night, propelling the Privateers to a 100-85 win over Crowley's Ridge College in the Lakefront Arena.
 
New Orleans remains undefeated on its home floor after the victory, improving its record to 2-3 on the year while scoring 100 points for the first time since the 2013 season.
 
Colton Weisbrod led the offense with his 23 points while point guard Nate Frye put in 13 of his own while dishing out eight assists.
 
"We were excited to see us perform well offensively," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "And it was also good to see us score from the spots we were looking to score from. Seeing our young guys step up and put in some points was big as well in contributing to their confidence."
 
After taking the opening tip it was New Orleans that found the scoreboard first as Michael Zeno pulled up from 10-feet, sinking the jumper to give the Privateers an early 2-0 lead.
 
Crowley's Ridge then held its only lead of the night moments later as the Pioneers connected on a three, going up by one in the early goings. The Privateers then answered with a 6-0 run on three field goals to take the 8-3 advantage.
 
New Orleans held onto at least a five-point lead over the next five minutes until a Pioneer three-pointer brought it down to three at 25-22 with 12:16 to go in the first. Crowley's Ridge then made it a one-point outing on the next basket, but New Orleans again responded, going on a 9-0 run to take its first double-digit lead of the contest at 34-24.
 
Bryce Jackson went on to give the home team a 12-point cushion with a three-pointer at the 7:27 mark, putting New Orleans up 37-25. Nate Frye then picked up a steal and finished the play with an easy two on the other end, making it a 14-point affair with seven minutes remaining.
 
The largest lead of the half came with 5:45 on the clock as Christavious Gill connected on the three, setting the Privateers on top 42-26.
 
New Orleans hammered home its third triple of the half just before the break as Syon put in his second, sending the game into the intermission at 54-41 New Orleans.
 
Crowley's Ridge found its offensive rhythm coming into the second half, erasing the 13-point New Orleans lead down to a tied ballgame over the first nine minutes, setting the score at 68-all with 11 to play.
 
Weisbrod then got the Privateers going, putting in back-to-back layups to bring New Orleans back up by two possessions. A pair of free throws from Kevin Brown and a jumper from Kevin Hill then gave The Privateers a six-point lead.
 
The Pioneers managed to bring it back down to two-possessions once more, making it 80-76 New Orleans with five minutes to go after a three-pointer. But a 10-0 run would give New Orleans the edge it needed as Gill put in the three-point dagger with three minutes to go, putting the Privateers up by 14, 90-76.
 
Zeno then sealed the deal with a dunk off of a Travin Thibodeaux steal, bringing home the 15-point win for the Privateers as time expired.
 
New Orleans put four players in double-figure scoring, Gill tossing in 18 points and Kevin Hill throwing in 14 to go with the 23 from Weisbrod and the 13 from Frye.
 
Zeno was tops on the boards for New Orleans, bringing down six, as the Privateers outrebounded the Pioneers by one, 36-35.
 
From the stripe, New Orleans connected on 22-of-29 attempts while shooting a stellar 56 percent from the field as a team.
 
The Privateers also put in solid work in the paint, throwing in 56 points under the basket compared to 22 from the Pioneers.
 
New Orleans is now back on the road for three straight starting next Saturday, Dec. 13, as the Privateers head to San Diego.

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.