Syon Records Double-Double in 89-79 Overtime Loss to Nicholls

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – Senior Terrance Syon reached double-double status with a career-high 16 rebounds on Monday night, but the effort fell just shy as the New Orleans men's basketball team dropped a thriller, 89-79, to Nicholls in overtime.
 
New Orleans saw four players reach double-figure scoring in the contest including a team-high 25 from Christavious Gill.
 
The Privateers came back from a 12-point deficit to send the game into overtime, connecting on 28 free throws and seven three-pointers.
 
"We didn't defend in the second half like we could have," said New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger. "And we allowed them to go 10-for-22 from three-point range and it's hard to win when you do that. I'm frustrated with our defensive effort and not finishing the game like we should have."
 
As Nicholls (8-18, 5-11 Southland Conference) took a two-possession lead with just 1:58 to go, 69-65, the Privateers (9-16, 5-11 SLC) came through in the clutch, scoring four straight on a layup from Nate Frye and a tip-in from Kevin Hill to send the game into overtime, 69-69.
 
But in the overtime period it was strong shooting from Nicholls that quickly put the Colonels up by eight 77-69. New Orleans got it back down to four at 80-76 with a Gill triple, but a 5-0 run from Nicholls would prove strong as the Colonels took the 10-point win.
 
Nicholls put in 20 points in the overtime period while New Orleans outscored the Colonels in the second half, 43-41.
 
Nicholls came out of the opening tip to a quick seven-point lead through the first three minutes, holding New Orleans scoreless at 7-0 before Terrance Syon got the Privateers on the board with a layup.
 
Syon then brought New Orleans within four points at 8-4 with a pair of free throws with 15:53 to go. But the Colonels kept their hot hand, going up by 12 at the 8:05 mark with their fifth three-pointer of the half, setting things at 22-10.
 
New Orleans ended the half with the momentum, however, going on a 6-0 run with a layup and four free throws to make it a two-possession game at 22-16. A Syon layup then brought the lead down to five with just :44 to go followed by a field goal from Kevin Brown and a buzzer-beating three from the corner from Gill, sending the game into the break at 28-26 Nicholls.
 
The Privateers took their first lead of the night out of the locker room with Gill again putting in a three to send New Orleans up 29-28. With 18:23 to go Gill then gave the Privateers their largest lead of the evening at four points, again hitting from long-range to send the home team up, 34-30.
 
The teams then played back-and-forth ball up until the 1:58 mark, when Nicholls took the four-point edge followed by the Privateer run to send the contest into extra time.
Leading the charge for New Orleans was Gill with his 25 points while Frye contributed with 16 to go with 15 from Syon and 10 from Tevin Broyles.
 
Gill put in six three-pointers on the night while Frye put in nine of his 16 from the free-throw line.
 
The Privateers will play in their home finale this Thursday, March 5, as New Orleans goes for the series sweep of Southeastern at 7:45 p.m. CT in the Lakefront Arena.

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.