NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans showcased high-flying dunks, the ability to make the extra pass and 16 steals in the 94-71 victory over Huntingdon College Wednesday evening at Lakefront Arena.
Catch and shoot played a huge role as shooters
Jorge Rosa and
Bryson Robinson combined for five triples.
FIRST HALF
It was the Rosa/
Michael Zeno show before the first media timeout with a steal by Rosa leading to a Zeno dunk. On the ensuing Privateer possession, Rosa found Zeno on an alley-oop, forcing a Hawks timeout.
Zeno provided much of the offense early and Robinson came off the bench with seven points and two offensive boards but Huntingdon cut UNO's lead to five at the 7:43 mark after five unanswered points. Free throws extended the Privateers lead to double figures after
Makur Puou and
Travin Thibodeaux made both and Zeno went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe.
The run, capped off by a corner triple by Rosa from
Matthew Jiles and Zeno steal/dunk, made it 39-22 New Orleans. It was officially a 12-0 run for the Blue and Silver. All in all, the Privateers led by as much as 22 and went into the half with a 50-37 edge. It was a beautiful display of team basketball with 12 assists on 15 field goals in the first stanza.
Zeno was the first to double figures and led all first half scorers for UNO with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Puou went a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and added two blocks for nine points. Thibs dished out a game-high four assists to go with three rebounds and six points and Rosa added eight points – six from three-point range – two assists and two steals. Robinson's seven points led all bench scorers and
Tyren Harrison and
Troy Green were credited with two steals apiece.
SECOND HALF
The highlight of the frame came with 9:02 left to play as 5-foot-6 freshman and New Orleans native
Lamont Berzat soared out of bounds to give UNO a fresh 30-seconds on a second chance opportunity.
The lead became 19 with 5:26 remaining after Rosa's and-one in the paint. New Orleans secured the victory in a close second half 94-71 as three scorers reached double figures.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Thibodeaux finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Zeno added 18 and Rosa followed with 13 points and three steals. Harrison came off the bench with eight points and Berzat recorded three and-one's in his collegiate debut. Robinson added 10 points off the bench.
NEXT UP
The Privateers begin the regular season in the Big Apple taking on St. John's University November 10 at 6 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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