Men's Basketball To Host Florida College On Friday In Lakefront Arena

NEW ORLEANS – One day after celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends, the University of New Orleans men's basketball team will look to get healthy off some home cooking when the Privateers play host to Florida College on Friday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. in Lakefront Arena.
 
UNO is coming off a tough three-game road swing where the squad fell short on each occasion. The experience, however, is one that sixth-year head coach Mark Slessinger feels will aid his team as the season progresses and the program continues to prepare for the upcoming Southland Conference portion of the 2016-17 schedule. The game against the Falcons is the first of a two-game homestand as the Privateers will take on cross-town rival Tulane on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
 
"We know that this is a long run for us," Slessinger said. "We're building more for our tournament and for our league. I've been in this league for a long time and you can't win the [conference] tournament and go on to the NCAA Tournament if you don't play games that get you better. You've got to go on the road and put your guys in the kinds of environments [at Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Oklahoma State]. That's what we're doing.
 
"We know that in the long run – into February and March – these games will pay off. The tough game at Washington State, the tough game at Utah State and the tough game at Northwestern are all going to pay off. It'll make us better over the long haul. We've got two huge ones at home coming up in Florida College and our friends from uptown [Tulane]. We know we have to be locked in and try and sweep two at home."
 
The Privateers enter the game 1-3 on the young season and looking to snap a three-game skid after dropping a 117-72 decision at Oklahoma State on Nov. 16, falling 77-68 on Nov. 19 at Tulsa and coming up on the wrong side of an 88-54 decision at Southern California on Nov. 22.
 
As a team, New Orleans is averaging 74.2 points, 35.8 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. Senior forward Erik Thomas (IDS/Business) leads the Privateers offensively with 22.3 points per game, followed by senior guard Christavious Gill (IDS/Behavioral Studies) and junior guard Jorge Rosa (IDS/Behavioral Studies) with respective averages of 12.3 and 8.0.
 
Thomas also paces the team with 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Junior forward Makur Puou (Political Science) headlines the defense with 2.0 blocked shots per outing. Gill, meanwhile, leads the Privateers with 3.8 assists per contest.
 
New Orleans is connecting at a .420 clip from the field, hitting 107-of-255 shots from the floor and 23-of-66 tries from beyond the 3-point arc (.348), while allowing opponents to shoot .482 overall (123-of-255) and .366 from 3-point land (34-of-93). Privateer foes are averaging 87.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.5 blocks so far in 2016-17.
 
Florida College, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) heads to The Big Easy 3-5 on the season and looking to halt a four-game slide after dropping road games at Warner (87-84 on Nov. 11), Webber International (79-77 on Nov. 15) and Piedmont International (78-77 on Nov. 18) and an 88-84 home loss to Franklin College on Nov. 21.
 
As a team, the Falcons are averaging 66.7 points, 37.8 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. Kent Hegart is one of five Florida College players to average double figures offensively and leads the team with 17.8 points per game. Jordan Benjamin is next with 14.1 points per outing, followed by Anthony Allen at 12.6, Eddie Moralobo at 12.0 and Dustin Dunham at 10.9.
 
Allen paces the team with 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game with Moralobo leading the way in assists with 3.6 dimes per outing and Dunham headlining the defense with 2.3 steals per contest.
 
Florida College is hitting 46.9 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 248-of-529 field goal attempts, including an 57-of-161 showing from beyond the 3-point line (.354). Not all Falcons' opponents have reported statistics so per-game averages and shooting percentages are unavailable. Friday's game will be an exhibition for Florida College and will not count toward its final record.
 
Friday's game between New Orleans and Florida College marks the first time the two teams will meet on the hardwood. The Falcons are one of four teams the Privateers will play for the very first time during the 2016-17 campaign. UNO is 1-1 in those games so far with a 103-67 victory over LaGrange College on Nov. 11 in Lakefront Arena and a 77-68 loss at Tulsa on Nov. 19. The final first-time foes on tap this season is a game at Washington State on Dec. 3.
 
Florida College will officially become the 272nd team to take on New Orleans in basketball once the game tips off and the Privateers will look to improve on a 186-85 record when taking on an opponent for the very first time.
 
For tickets to UNO's upcoming games against Florida College and Tulane, as well as future Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office over the phone at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or via the Internet by clicking HERE.