NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers basketball teams continue their home stand against Southeastern on Thursday at Lakefront Arena. The doubleheader starts with the women's game at 5:30 p.m.
The Privateers men (10-11, 7-6 Southland) are looking to bounce back from a 72-69 loss in their last out vs. McNeese State on Sunday. New Orleans has alternated wins and losses throughout six home games since conference play started. Sunday also marked just the second time in the last nine games that the Privateers were held under 70 points.
In the last three games, senior
Cory Dixon has made 28-of-33 free throws and has improved his percentage by three points to 72.7. That mark is 13th best in the Southland. Dixon also continues to pace the conference in rebounding at 8.4 boards per game, and has eight double-doubles on the season including an 18-point, 11-rebound performance against McNeese.
Senior
Isaac Mack dished a career-high eight assists on Sunday. In his last three games, Mack has 17 helpers after having just seven in his previous four contests. Mack also tied his career-best with 14 points in his last outing.
The Privateers defeated Southeastern 90-85 in the first meeting in Hammond on Jan. 30, and are still unbeaten (8-0) all time against the Lions. The 175 combined points was the highest total in a Privateers road game since Dec. 16, 2011 when New Orleans and Concordia-Selma combined for 179 points in a 93-86 Privateers win.
Southeastern (11-13, 6-7) comes in having swept their last conference weekend with home wins over McNeese and Nicholls. The Lions are just 3-9 away from their home at the University Center.
JaMichael Hawkins paces the Lions' scoring attack with 13.6 points per game. However, in his last three games, Hawkins has shot just 24 percent (6-for-25) including a 1-for-12 performance from the field in a loss at Oral Roberts. Hawkins has been the main deep threat for the Lions, converting on 46 three-pointers, seventh most in the conference.
The matchup provides two different ends of the spectrum on the offensive boards. The Privateers lead the Southland in offensive rebounding with 13.1 offensive boards per game. Meanwhile, the Lions rank last in the conference in that category with 9.3.
The Privateers' women (0-24, 0-13 Southland) are coming off their last effort, an 84-54 loss vs. McNeese on Sunday. In that game, New Orleans scored 36 points in the first half, their highest 20-minute point total this season.
New Orleans fell to the Lady Lions 84-55 in the first meeting this season. The Privateers have an 18-15 lead in the all-time series, but have dropped five straight against Southeastern entering Thursday's contest.
Freshman
Octavia Wilson comes off her best effort on the boards entering play. The Privateers' leading scorer at 8.9 points per game, Wilson pulled in seven rebounds on Sunday. Prior to that game, Wilson had been averaging just 1.6 boards per game.
Senior
Samantha Gray is coming off her first double-digit scoring output with New Orleans. Gray put up 10 points, eclipsing her previous career-best nine points in a game last season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Gray's season-high scoring effort before Sunday's performance was six points in home games vs. Incarnate Word and Lamar.
The Lady Lions (7-17, 6-6) enter Thursday fresh off of snapping a three-game losing streak in their last outing, a 68-66 win over Nicholls. In Southeastern's last nine games, five have been decided by five points or fewer. The Lady Lions are 3-2 in those contests.
Southeastern boasts four players who average in double figures, led by Symone Miller who averages 14.0 points per game. Aja Gibson posted back-to-back double-doubles in the last conference weekend, and is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game.
The Lady Lions also have two players who rank in the top ten in rebounding in the Southland. Gibson's 7.9 boards per game are eighth-best while Nanna Pool is averaging 10.4 boards per game, which ranks second in the conference. The only other Southland player averaging double figures in rebounds is Sam Houston State's Angela Beadle (10.5).
Both games will be available in HD for subcribers on UNO Showcase.
Emmanuel Pepis will call the women's game, with pregame starting at 5:30 p.m. Men's coverage will begin 15 minutes following the conlcusion of the women's game, with "Voice of the Privateers" Jude Young calling the game on WGSO 990 AM, wgso.com & the TuneIn app.
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