New Orleans Closes Out 18-Point Gap, Falls at Central Arkansas, 70-67

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CONWAY, Ark. – The New Orleans men's basketball team closed out an 18-point deficit against Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon but couldn't find the go-ahead shot, falling in Southland Conference action, 70-67.
 
The Privateers outscored the Bears 43-34 in the final 20 minutes of action as New Orleans moves its record to 6-13 on the year and 2-8 in league play.
 
"It's tough to lead a team with as many missed field goals as we had in the first," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "It became a guard-heavy game and we needed to create more scoring opportunities off of our press, which we did, we just couldn't convert those into points on the other end of the floor."
 
Things were tight through the first few minutes of play at the Farris Center until a 12-2 Central Arkansas (1-19, 1-8 SLC) run gave the Bears a 10-point lead at 18-8 at the 10:20 mark.
 
The Privateers then scored six straight with two baskets from Tevin Broyles and a layup from Terrance Syon to make it a four-point affair at 20-16 with eight minutes to play.
 
But the Bears again hit an offensive spurt, extending their lead to 34-16 with four on the clock in the first half with New Orleans ending the half on a high-note, putting in the last five points of the period to make it a 36-24 UCA lead through the first 20.
 
Through the first five minutes New Orleans managed to bring the lead down to single digits, picking up big shots from Syon, Broyles and Kevin Hill to set the score at 41-32 UCA.
 
But out of the timeout it was Central Arkansas that picked up a big three, taking its lead back up to double-figures at 49-36 with 14 minutes to play in regulation.
 
Heading into the final 10 minutes of action it was Christavious Gill that forced the UCA timeout, putting in the layup off of the Kevin Brown assist to again make it a 10-point affair at 56-46 Bears.
 
Colton Weisbrod then brought the lead below 10 with a layup, making it a 56-48 ballgame with eight to play, but UCA quickly answered with a basket of its own, setting the difference back at 10 heading into the final seven minutes.
 
After UCA brought its lead back up to 15 points, the Privateers still hung tough as Brown knocked down a three with 4:50 to go to once again make it a 10-point Bear lead at 66-56.
 
Broyles then again found points in the paint, bringing it down to just an eight-point edge at 66-58 with under four to play. Following the timeout it was Hill that completed the three-point play, bringing New Orleans within five at 66-61 at the 3:30 mark.
 
Gill then made it a one-possession game with a layup off the glass, bringing the score to 66-63 with three minutes remaining. Brown then tied things up at 67 with a pair of free throws, tying it up for the first time since early in the first half with just over a minute to go.
 
But two free throws from the Bears with 46 seconds left on the clock would swing momentum back in favor of the Bears at 69-67 with the game-tying shot from the Privateers falling short as UCA took the home-court win.
 
Broyles was good for 16 points during the afternoon while Hill fell just one rebound shy of the double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Brown was the final Privateer in double-figures with his 12.
 
Both Brown and Travin Thibodeaux finished with three steals.
 
New Orleans returns home for a brief stop at the Lakefront Arena, taking on McNeese State this Monday, February 9, at 7 p.m. CT.

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.
  
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