BEAUMONT, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers basketball teams wrap up their 2013-14 season with the penultimate on Thursday at the Montagne Center. The doubleheader starts with the women's game, which tips at 5:30 p.m.
The Privateers men's team (11-13, 8-8 Southland) will look to rebound off a tough conference weekend. In the most recent outing, New Orleans lost 84-71 to Northwestern State after shooting just 25 percent in the first half, and falling behind by 11 points at halftime.
New Orleans defeated Lamar 77-55 in the first meeting this season at Lakefront Arena. All-time, the Privateers are 24-6 against the Cardinals and have won four straight entering play. This will be the first time the two teams meet in Beaumont since 2006.
Senior
Cory Dixon returned off an ankle injury suffered against Stephen F. Austin to post 15 points and six rebounds on five-of-eight shooting from the field on Saturday. Dixon also made five-of-seven free throw attempts on the evening.
Sophomore
Kevin Hill has been a double-double machine of late with three straight games of double digit points and rebounds. On Saturday, Hill put up career highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes. Hill is averaging 11.0 rebounds per game over his last six contests, and his boards per game have jumped from 4.5 at the start of Southland play to 6.8 entering Thursday.
Lamar (3-25, 2-14) has lost seven straight since their last victory, a 59-57 triumph over Houston Baptist on Jan. 30. Four of the Cardinals' last five losses have come by single digits including a narrow 74-71 loss at home against Sam Houston State.
Nimrod Hilliard leads the way for the Cardinals, pacing the team in points, minutes, three-pointers, assists, steals, and free throw attempts. Hilliard landed just shy of a double-double against Central Arkansas when he posted 19 points and nine rebounds. Hilliard also added six assists on the night.
The Privateers women's team (0-27, 0-16) looks to shake off a late game cold spell that contributed to a 51-48 loss to the Northwestern State Lady Demons on Senior Day. New Orleans led by as many as 15, and had a six-point advantage with under five minutes to go. However, the Privateers were held scoreless in the last 4:40 of the game.
Both teams enter nearly dead even in the all-time series. In 31 career meetings, the Privateers hold a narrow 16-15 edge against the Lady Cardinals. Lamar snapped the Privateers' six-game winning streak in the series in an 80-53 victory at Lakefront Arena.
Freshman
Octavia Wilson leads the team at 9.2 points per game, and had 17 points and six rebounds on Saturday while playing all 40 minutes. Wilson has drained 40 three-pointers this season, and is three away from breaking into the top ten in program history for triples made in a single season. Wilson has made a three-pointer in 16 of 20 games since being inserted full-time into the starting lineup.
Senior
Amber Clay posted six points and nine rebounds in the losing effort. The nine boards eclipsed Clay's previous season-high of eight (achieved three times). Clay also logged a career-high 35 minutes on Saturday.
The Lady Cardinals (16-11, 11-5) have split their last four conference contests. Prior to that, Lamar had won nine of their last 11 games. The most recent outing was a 56-53 victory at Central Arkansas on Saturday.
Gia Ayers leads the team with 15.4 points per game, and has performed even better in Southland play. Ayers is averaging the fifth-most points a game of any Southland player (16.8) since conference play started, and leads the team in points, minutes, and assists. Ayers paces a Lady Cardinals squad that is one of two Southland schools averaging over 70 points per game.
"Voice of the Privateers" Jude Young will have the men's game on WGSO 990 AM, wgso.com and the TuneIn app, with pregame starting 15 minutes following the women's contest. Lamar will be offering free video of both contests as well on their website. See below for the links.
NOTE - Due to
Emmanuel Pepis' travel with the baseball team, audio of the women's game will not be available this weekend.
How to Follow:
