BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)HOUSTON, Texas. – Even with 20 points from sophomore
Nate Frye, the New Orleans men's basketball team couldn't hold on late, falling at Houston Baptist in the final moments, 74-73.
The Privateers held a lead for most of the second half before climbing back from a six-point deficit to tie it up late in Southland Conference action as New Orleans moves its record to 5-8 on the year and 1-3 in league play.
"I couldn't be prouder of our group of players," said New Orleans head coach
Mark Slessinger. "The progress we've made from Monday's game to today is tremendous. We went back and worked out and we can see dramatic improvements. We have to figure out a way to close out games, but across the board I'm very proud and glad to see we had contributions from everybody."
New Orleans put four players in double-figure scoring on the night including Frye's 20, just two shy of a career record for the guard.
Tevin Broyles tipped in 13 as did
Kevin Hill to go with his team-best seven rebounds.
Christavious Gill was the fourth member of the double-figure club with his 11.
Down 67-62 with just 3:30 to play, the sophomore Gill knocked down the three from the wing followed by a steal and a free throw, making it a one-point affair at 67-66 Huskies (7-8, 2-3 SLC).
Two more at the line from Frye kept it at one point following the HBU field goal, but a big three from the Huskies put the home team back up by four, 72-68 with just over a minute to go.
Kevin Hill then put in two at the line followed by a big defensive stop, sending Frye to the hoop where he tied it up plus the free throw, giving New Orleans the 73-72 lead with :35 on the clock.
A foul call with just :14 then sent the Huskies to the stripe down one, where Houston Baptist put in both attempts to take the 74-73 lead, giving New Orleans the ball back with just seconds left on the clock.
Frye's buzzer-beater attempt from 15 feet then fell short, giving Houston Baptist the home-court, one-point win.
In the first half for New Orleans after getting into foul trouble in the early goings of the contest, it was Houston Baptist that went on top early, taking a six-point lead at the 14:19 mark, 12-6.
With the Huskies on top 16-10, New Orleans found its rhythm, going on a 6-0 run with a jumper from
Kevin Hill starting things off as the Privateers stormed back to tie things up at 16 with under nine to go.
Frye then sank his first three-pointer of the night moments later to give New Orleans its first lead of the night at 19-17. HBU was able to get its lead back briefly at 28-25, but a Broyles free throw and a
Colton Weisbrod steal and a layup tied things back up with 4:35 to play.
Frye again connected from long range with 2:53 to play, completing an 8-1 run for the Privateers and putting the visitors on top, 36-29, the team's largest lead of the half.
The half then ended with Frye going coast-to-coast and finishing with the finger roll as time expired, sending the teams into the break with New Orleans on top, 40-34.
Weisbrod got the second half going for New Orleans with a layup after collecting his own offensive rebound followed by a three from Gill, giving the Privateers their first double-digit lead of the night at 47-36 through the first minute.
A 7-2 run from the Huskies kept the home team alive, setting things at 49-43 New Orleans after a quick HBU layup at the 17:05 mark. Five more from Houston Baptist, all from Colter Lasher, then made it a one-possession game at 51-48 with just over 15 to play.
Frye put in a free throw to break the New Orleans scoring drought, but four consecutive HBU points tied things up at 52-52, the first tie since midway through the first half.
HBU took a brief lead at 56-54, but New Orleans had the answer as Gill went off for four straight points, two on free throws and two more on a fast-break layup after coming up with the steal, giving the Privateers a 58-56 advantage with nine to go.
Nine straight points from the Huskies then gave Houston Baptist its largest lead of the half at six points, 67-61, as the game headed down the home stretch with 3:49 to play before Gill's big push.
The game saw 10 ties and nine lead changes through the 40 minutes.
Other stats of note include three assists from Frye, three steals from Gill and two blocks each for Hill and Broyles.
New Orleans is back on the hardwood this Monday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. CT as the Privateers take on 2013-14 NCAA Tournament team Stephen F. Austin to wrap-up a three-game road trip.
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
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