Brown Nets 21 as Privateers Claw Bears, 87-67

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – Kevin Brown tied a career-high with 21 points as the New Orleans men's basketball team took down Central Arkansas, 87-67, to get back in the win column in the Lakefront Arena on Monday night.
 
It was a wire-to-wire win for the Privateers who placed four players in double-figures scoring while scoring 50 points in the first half alone, the second time this year New Orleans has accomplished that feat.
 
The win bolsters the Privateers to 6-10 on the year and to 2-5 in the Southland Conference standings while remaining undefeated all-time against the Bears.
 
"We wanted to start quick," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "We wanted to press defensively and keep our tempo up and we did that. We made the extra pass, took smart shots and did the right things offensively. Our guys were upset after Saturday night and they came out and responded well. They wanted this one bad and they locked in."
 
The Privateers started the game off with a 13-0 run, Terrance Syon putting New Orleans on the board with a layup followed by a Brown triple to get things going.
 
Tevin Broyles got New Orleans up by 15 with a layup, 22-7, with 13:53 to go in the first, but the Bears found their shot, scoring six straight to bring it down to a nine-point affair at 22-13.
 
Back-to-back baskets from Nate Frye and Syon got New Orleans on top by double figures once again at 26-13 with 11:28 to go with the Privateers holding the double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.
 
The largest lead of the half came with 2:19 on the clock as Travis Avery hit on the freebie to put the Privateers firmly in the lead at 45-26 as New Orleans went on to take the 50-33 halftime lead.
 
Brown ended the opening period with his fourth triple of the half, giving him 14 points through the first 20 minutes with a 4-for-5 performance from beyond the arc as New Orleans shot 69 percent as a team.
 
The Privateers didn't slow down in the second half as Christavious Gill put in a pair of free throws followed by a layup from Brown, giving New Orleans a 19-point lead after the first minute of the half.
 
Syon then handed the Privateers their first 20-point lead of the evening with the layup, putting the home team on top 58-48 with 16:42 to go. The Bears managed to bring the lead below 20, but Syon ended that with another basket in the paint with under 10 to play, 72-51, as the Privateers never relinquished the 20-point edge.
 
New Orleans picked up its largest lead of the night at 26 points on three occasions down the stretch, the latest coming with 2:40 to go on a Weisbrod layup from the Bryce Jackson assists, 87-61, as the Privateers cruised to the 20-point win.
 
Gill scored in double-figures for the eighth straight game with his 10 points while Brown and Hill accomplished that for the second, Brown leading with his 21 and Hill tipping in 18.
 
Syon was the fourth Privateer in double-digit scoring totals with his 13.
 
Hill flirted with the double-double, bringing in a game-high eight rebounds as did Syon with his eight.
 
Frye dished out seven assists during the contest, six of those coming in the first half, while Gill handed out four.
 
As a team, the Privateers shot a season-high 60 percent from the field while outrebounding the Bears 36-28.
 
New Orleans was once again strong in the paint, putting in 44 points under the basket and converting 25 Central Arkansas turnovers into 27 points.
 
The Privateers also saw points from 10 of the 12 players who saw action on the floor.
 
New Orleans now hits the road for three straight starting this Saturday, Jan. 31, as the Privateers head to McNeese State for a 3 p.m. CT contest at Burton Coliseum.

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.