New Orleans Drops Contest at Stephen F. Austin, 79-54

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team shot nearly 45 percent from the field on Monday night but couldn't hold off a tough Stephen F. Austin team, falling in Southland Conference action, 79-54.
 
New Orleans ends the three-game road trip with a 5-9 overall record and a 1-4 league standing while the SLC leading Lumberjacks moved to 15-3 on the season and 5-0 in conference play.
 
The Privateers were the first team in league play to hold the Lumberjacks under 80 points so far this season.

"We had some uncharacteristic turnovers that are unacceptable for us," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "We executed and stuck to the game plan at times, but also had some careless play at times and that's not us. We'll get back and teach off of this and learn off of this and get better."
 
After falling behind 14-4 through the first five minutes of the opening half, the Privateers clipped off a 9-4 run, closing the gap on the Lumberjacks at 18-13 after a Christavious Gill triple off of the Terrance Syon assist.
 
SFA then extended its lead back up to its largest of the period at 13 points, 32-19, with five left in the half. But New Orleans again closed the gap, going on the 8-0 spurt, four of those points from Syon, to again make it a five-point game at 32-27 with 1:50 to play.
 
The Lumberjacks broke their dry spell with a put-back followed by a Travin Thibodeaux layup off of the Frye pass from the Privateers as the team's exchanged baskets heading into the break with SFA on top, 36-29.
 
Stephen F. Austin then opened the second half with five straight, extending its lead to 12 points before the Privateer offense got going with a Gill layup. The Lumberjacks went on to enjoy a 10-5 run through the first four minutes of action in the second, taking a 46-34 lead.
 
Tevin Broyles put in the mid-range jumper along with the Syon basket in the paint, holding the SFA lead at 12 over the next 3:30, bringing the score to 50-38 at the 11:32 mark.
 
An 11-2 run from the home team then sent the Lumberjacks to their biggest lead of the night at 61-40 with nine on the clock. Syon ended the run with a layup coupled with a three from Gill, keeping New Orleans in the thick of things at 66-45 with 7:20 to go.
 
Seven consecutive from the Lumberjacks then put the game out of reach as SFA took the home-floor victory.
 
Gill and Syon each finished in double-figures on the night, Gill leading with 13 points to go with five assists while Syon tipped in 11 along with his team-leading six rebounds.
         
The Privateers now return home for the first time in two weeks on Saturday, Jan. 24 as Texas A&M Corpus Christi heads to Lakefront Arena for homecoming weekend at New Orleans.

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.