Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team (11-12, 8-7 Southland) gave up a season-high in points in a 103-63 loss to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (26-2, 15-0) on Thursday night at Lakefront Arena.
New Orleans started sluggish, missing seven of the first eight shots and committing four turnovers. Stephen F. Austin used that slow start by the Privateers to race to a 13-2 lead at the 14:33 mark of the first half. At the 15:19 mark of the half, on a rebound attempt after a missed jumper,
Cory Dixon injured his ankle and did not return to the contest.
"It was a missed opportunity to validate the progress we made going forward and it's disappointing for them. I feel bad for those guys because we missed na opportunity to move forward. They did everything right on their end, and we didn't do anything to take them out of doing right. That's what we will go back and address," said Head Coach
Mark Slessinger.
Tevin Broyles was the early source of offense for the Privateers, scoring five of the next seven points in the game to cut the early deficit to eight. That's as close as the Privateers got in the opening half however, as the Lumberjacks used strong transition passing as part of a subsequent 8-0 run to take a commanding 16-point lead halfway through the opening 20 minutes of play. Stephen F. Austin carried a 53-30 lead into the half. The Lumberjacks shot 58.3 percent in the opening frame while New Orleans was held to 36.7 percent from the field. The Privateers also committed 11 turnovers in that stretch.
"We've hung our hat on guarding and getting stops. We didn't have the shut down and the stops we needed throughout the night. Give them credit for the things they did, but we've got to be better," said Slessinger.
Kevin Hill notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Isaac Mack went 6-for-10 from the field, and led the team with 15 points. New Orleans was held to just 37.7 percent shooting, and was out-rebounded 40-25 on the night.
The Lumberjacks got 28 points from Thomas Walkup who made 13-of-16 shots. Three Lumberjacks joined Walkup in double figures. Desmond Haymon added 18 points, Deshaunt Walker scored 14, and Jacob Parker added 11 points along with 10 rebounds. Stephen F. Austin shot 64.1 percent from the field on the night.
New Orleans will take to the floor for the last time at the Lakefront this season against Northwestern State on Saturday. Tip is slated for 6:15 p.m.
