Privateers Lasso Lions with 74-73 Road Win

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HAMMOND, La. – With a season-high nine three-pointers on Monday night the New Orleans men's basketball team took home a 74-73 road win over in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference competition.
 
The win keeps the Privateers undefeated all-time against the Lions (9-18, 6-8 SLC), now at 10-0 in the series, while improving New Orleans to 8-15 on the year and 4-10 in league play.
 
The contest saw 21 lead changes and seven ties, but it was ultimately a Tevin Broyles game-winner with seconds remaining that sent the Privateers home victorious.
 
"We manage to find ways to for these games to be exciting," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "I'm proud of this team and their toughness and character and that goes back to them being quality student-athletes. I think that shows in our fight through this year that we can come out and continue to be tough."
 
The first half was a competitive one, consisting of 10 lead changes through the first 20 minutes, the first coming on a Kevin Brown three-pointer off of the Nate Frye assists the put the Privateers up, 5-2, through the first two minutes.
 
Neither team held more than a one-point lead following the Brown three up until another triple from the senior gave New Orleans a 17-15 edge at the midway point of the first.
 
The Privateers then took their largest lead of the period at the 8:36 mark when Gill knocked down a long-rage shot of his own, setting New Orleans on top, 19-15.
 
A scoreless drought from the Privateers then swung things back in favor of the home team as Southeastern took the 25-19 lead over the next four minutes of action.
 
Five straight points from New Orleans kept things close, Kevin Hill collecting a pair of tough points in the paint off of three offensive boards to make it a one-point affair at 25-24 Lions with 2:43 to play.
 
Gill then sent in the final points of the half on a layup with :41 remaining, sending the contest into the break at 33-30 Southeastern.
 
Into the second half things remained close, Southeastern extending its lead to five but Gill quickly bringing it back down to two with a three from the corner, setting the score at 35-37 Lions with 17 to go.
 
Brown connected on his third three-pointer of the night minutes later from the wing with the help coming from Frye, making it a one-point game at 41-40 with 15:05 to play in regulation.
 
Exactly one minute later it was Brown again coming through, this time at the free-throw line, putting in two freebies to give New Orleans its first lead since the opening half at 42-41.
 
Terrance Syon put the Privateers up by two possessions at the midway point as he stormed the paint, putting in the layup to give New Orleans the 50-45 advantage over the Lions.
 
After Southeastern briefly tied things up at 51-51 it was Frye that broke up the tie, connecting on a three to put the Privateers back in command at the eight-minute mark.
 
But the Lions answered, putting in a three of their own followed by a layup to give the home team the lead at 57-54. Gill then knocked down a three of his own down from the corner to give the Privateers a one-point edge, but another quick three from the Lions put Southeastern up by two with just over six minutes to play.
 
Following a timeout on the floor it was Tevin Broyles that came up big for New Orleans, banking in a three with seconds left on the shot clock followed by a Travin Thibodeaux layup, giving the Privateers a 62-59 lead with just over five to go.
 
Thibodeaux then finished with the two-hand jam, extending the run for New Orleans and putting the Privateers in the lead at 64-59 down the final four minutes of action.
 
Frye then distanced the Privateers with two free throws, completing the 12-3 run for New Orleans that kept the visitor's on top at 66-59.
 
But the Lions again weren't done, going on a 12-6 run of their own, sinking a layup and stealing an in-bounds pass with just :16 left to play to give the home team a 73-72 lead.
 
Broyles then drove the lane, taking the last second shot for the Privateers and sinking the game-winner as New Orleans took the road victory.
 
New Orleans was led by Frye's 17 points, six of those coming at the line and nine from beyond the arc, while Gill put in 12 on five field goals and Brown dropped in 13.
 
On the boards the Privateers again dominated, taking down 40 rebounds with seven coming from Hill and six coming from Syon.
 
Thibodeaux also put together a nice stat line, scoring seven points with five rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Privateers also capitalized on 16 Southeastern turnovers, turning those into 17 points.
 
New Orleans now returns to the friendly confines for a three-game home-stand starting this Saturday, Feb. 28, as Abilene Christian arrives at the Lakefront Arena for a 6:15 p.m. CT showdown.
 
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.