Frye Scores 20 as Privateers’ Season Ends with 61-58 Loss to Islanders

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KATY, Texas – The New Orleans men's basketball team's run in the Southland Conference Tournament came to an end on Wednesday night as the Privateers fell in the second round to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 61-58.
 
Nate Frye led the charge with 20 points during the effort as the Privateers close their season with an 11-18 overall record and the school's first conference tournament win in seven years on Tuesday.
 
"It was an incredible game," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "All three came down to two points, overtime and now three points tonight. My hat goes off to those guys and I wish them the best. I'm so proud of our student-athletes right now and how they conduct themselves. And I'm proud of the University of New Orleans for getting back and getting competitive."
 
The Privateers strong presence in the paint carried over from their opening round win, putting in a quick 10-4 lead after layups from Frye and Travin Thibodeaux through the first four minutes of play.
 
Nate Frye and Brown then gave the Privateers their largest lead of the young game at 16-6 after drilling a pair of back-to-back threes with 15 on the clock.
 
A 9-0 run from the Islanders along with a four-minute dry spell from the field for the Privateers sent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to its first lead of the night, bringing the Islanders up 19-18 with just under nine minutes to go.
 
Thibodeaux got the Privateers back in the lead at the 6:40 mark as the freshman put in a pair of free throws, making it a 22-21 New Orleans advantage.
 
The squads then played to five more lead changes three ties before New Orleans pulled away late, taking the slim 34-33 lead into the break.
 
New Orleans' one-point lead was short lived coming into the second half as an Islander free throw quickly tied things up at 34-34. Thibodeaux and Gill then sank consecutive field goals over the next two minutes, putting the Privateers back up by two possessions, 38-34.
 
The Privateers completed the 8-0 run with a Kevin Hill free throw at 42-34 with 15:17 to go before the Islanders brought the lead back down to just two, completing the 6-0 run.
 
A Jumper from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the 11:33 mark then tied things up, the 10-footer knotting things up at 42. The Islanders then took off on a 5-0 run, swinging the lead in their favor, 49-44, with 6:39 to play.
 
Four straight free throws from Frye and Kevin Brown then got New Orleans back in the ballgame, cutting the Islander lead down to just two points at 55-53 with 2:30 remaining in regulation.
 
Frye then struck again, sending home a three-pointer to make it a one-point affair at 57-56 with just 1:53 on the clock. New Orleans had a chance to tie or take the lead with 18 seconds left on the clock, but a costly turnover would put the ball back in the hands of the Islanders as they took the 61-58 win.

Frye shot 7-of-12 from the field to lead the New Orleans' scoring charge as the guard also sank a pair of threes to go with his 4-for-4 performance from the line.
 
Thibodeaux picked up a career-best 12 rebounds on the night, nine of those alone coming on the defensive end as New Orleans won the rebound battle, 37-32.
 
"We're headed in the right direction," added Slessinger. "We have a great nucleus and we put together a solid recruiting class. We've created a strong culture and we're excited to create this championship caliber team. We'll work all summer long trying to find those three extra points."
 
The Privateers will now begin preparation for the 2015-16 campaign.

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.