Men’s Basketball Set to Open Conference Season with Lamar

NEW ORLEANS (4-5, 0-0) VS LAMAR (7-6, 1-0)
GAME 10 | JANUARY 5 | 7:45 P.M. CT
NEW ORLEANS, LA. | LAKEFRONT ARENA
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | TWITTER | TICKETS
 
THE GAME:
The New Orleans men's basketball team remains at home this Monday, Jan. 5 as the Privateers tip-off Southland Conference play with Lamar at 7:45 p.m. CT in the Lakefront Arena.
 
The Privateers look to make it two wins in a row and three out of their last four while the Cardinals are currently riding a five-game win streak.
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from UNOPrivateers.com at the start of Monday's game.
LIVE VIDEO: UNOPrivateers.com will have the broadcast of the contest.
LIVE AUDIO: Jude Young will have the call on UNOPrivateers.com
TWITTER: Follow the New Orleans men's basketball team on Twitter @Privateers_MBB to receive updates throughout the game.
 
THE OPPONENT:
LAMAR
Lamar arrives at the Lakefront Arena as one of the hottest teams in the country, taking home wins in each of its last five games. The Cardinals are led by Tyran de Lattibeaudiere, who is tops for the squad in nearly every major category including points (15.7) and rebounds (8.0).
 
THE SERIES
All-Time Record: New Orleans leads, 24-7
Last Meeting: Lamar won, 89-72, 3/6/14

LAST TIME OUT:
With a career-high 22 points from Nate Frye and a season-best 10 blocks, the New Orleans men's basketball team slid past Central Baptist, 90-60, on Tuesday night, ending the non-conference season on a high-note. New Orleans put four players in double-figure scoring during the outing while shooting 53-percent from the field as a team and outrebounding the Mustangs, 49-29.
 
NEXT UP:
New Orleans will play one more game at home this week, hosting Sam Houston State on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 6:15 p.m. CT.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Success vs. the Cardinals
Against Lamar New Orleans has been historically successful, boasting a 24-7 overall record vs. the Cardinals. The Privateers have won four out of the last five meetings and hold a 13-2 record against Lamar on their home floor.

Home Court Edge
New Orleans holds an undefeated mark on its home floor, holding a 3-0 mark as the Privateers take on the Cardinals in the Southland Conference opener.
 
Sure Shots
The Privateers have shot the ball well thus far, shooting at a 47-percent success rate from the field, going 225-of-483 from the field, good enough for the third best margin in the Southland Conference.
 
Against Central Baptist
During the team's win over Central Baptist, New Orleans placed four players in double-figure scoring and knocked down a season high of 10 blocked shots, seven of which came in the first half alone.

Controlling the Court
Ball control has also been a theme for the Privateers early on, committing the 14th fewest fouls in the nation at 184 total and the 23rd fewest turnovers at 139.
 
Gill Hits the Century Mark
With a 15-point outing against Central Baptist this past Monday, Christavious Gill became the first Privateer to eclipse 100 points for the season, now sitting at 103 total and averaging 11.4 per game.
 
Blocks
Travin Thibodeaux has been a force in the paint, leading the team in blocks with his 12. Thibodeaux has had at least one block in each of the team's first seven out of nin games and knocked down four against the Mustangs.
 
Weisbrod Still Shooting Well
Weisbrod currently stands as one of the most proficient shooter in the nation, holding a field goal percentage of .656, connecting on 40-of-61 attempts from the floor to put the freshman at No. 1 in the Southland Conference in that category.
 
Frye at the Line
With 23-of-27 makes from the stripe, Nate Frye ranks in the top 10 in the league in free-throw percentage with an .852 mark. Frye put in all seven of his attempts during the win over Central Baptist.

Slessinger Closing in on Win 50
Fourth year head coach Mark Slessinger is closing in on win  number 50 during his coaching tenure, sitting at 40 after picking up his latest against Central Baptist.

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.