NEW ORLEANS – A three-game win streak propelled the University of New Orleans (11-10, 8-2 Southland) to first place in the Southland Conference, a game ahead in the win column of Nicholls State University (Saturday's opponent) and Southeastern Louisiana University. This week begins with the Privateers hosting Northwestern State University (3-17, 0-9 Southland) Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
In last week's meeting versus the Demons, the Privateers were led by
Bryson Robinson's 17 points in the 73-67 victory.
Ezekiel Charles matched his season-high of 15 points and enters leading the league in three-point shooting (50.6 percent).
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
http://sidearmstats.com/uno/mbball/
Watch:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
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Facebook:
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TIP-OFF
• First place and defending Southland Conference champion University of New Orleans returns to Lakefront Arena to host Northwestern State University Wednesday at 7 p.m.
• It marks the second time in seven days the two programs will meet. The Privateers defeated the Demons 73-67 in Natchitoches January 24.
•
Makur Puou dominated the second half of Saturday's victory with 16 of his 18 points (tied career-high).
•
Travin Thibodeaux leads the club in points (16.4 points), field goal percentage (55.7 percent), rebounds (6.0), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.2) and his 2.9 assists per game rank second behind
Bryson Robinson's 3.0.
•
Bryson Robinson is second in points per game (8.8) and ranks second in three-point shooting, draining 36.5 percent of his long distance shots.
•
Ezekiel Charles' 50.8 shooting from three-point range is atop the Southland Conference.
• The Privateers are 7-1 at Lakefront Arena.
• Four of New Orleans' final eight games of the regular season are against the 7-2 Nicholls Colonels and 7-2 Southeastern Louisiana Lions.
• Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology features the Privateers heading to Dayton for the play-in game March 13-14.
•
Next Up: The Privateers take on Nicholls Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS
Travin Thibodeaux is the lone Privateer in double figures with 16.4 points per game, good for fifth in the Southland Conference. His 55.7 percent shooting is tops in the league.
In first place in the loaded Southland, New Orleans is a game ahead of Saturday's opponent Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana in the win column.
His 55.8 percent shooting leads the Southland Conference.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons are searching for their first conference win since ending last season on a three-game win streak. Jalen West, one of the most decorated players at Northwestern State, is no longer on the squad. Leading scorer Ishmael Lane is averaging 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds and finished with 14 points and four blocks in last Wednesday's meeting.
THE SERIES
The Privateers lead the all-time series 6-5 but are 2-3 when hosting the Demons.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: 6-5
Home: 2-3 | Away: 3-2 | Neutral: 1-0 | Southland: 3-4 | Streak W1
01/06/73 H W 101-87
12/19/86 N/1 W 71-57
11/25/06 H L 67-71
11/14/07 A W 72-66
03/01/14 H * L 71-84
02/21/15 H * L 84-87
03/07/15 A * L 78-88
02/20/16 A * W 102-99
03/05/16 H * W 97-86
02/25/17 A * L 82-83
01/24/18 A * W 73-67
* - Southland Conference game
1 – LSU Invitational (Baton Rouge, La.)
DEFEND THE LAKEFRONT
New Orleans is 7-1 at Lakefront Arena and the home mark is one of the best in the nation. Southland Conference foes Sam Houston State (9-1), and McNeese (5-1) have lost just once at home - the Cowboys' loss coming at the hands of the Privateers - and SFA is a perfect 12-0 in Nacogdoches.
DOUBLE DIGIT STRETCH FOR THIBODEAUX
Travin Thibodeaux is putting together his best offensive season as a Privateer. The Plaquemine native entered with zero 20 point games in three seasons and begins the week with eight in 2017-18. The senior has reached double figures in 14 consecutive games.
RECORD BOOK CHANGES
Privateer faithful have seen
Mark Slessinger move up the ranks this season with the seventh-year coach now second on the most games coached, 15 behind
Ron Greene.
Most Games
211, Ron Greene, 1969-77
196,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
185, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
Most Wins
146, Ron Greene, 1969-77
126, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
88,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
CLUTCH DOWN THE STRETCH
They say championship teams know how to win late in ballgames and the defending Southland Conference champs are doing just that. The Privateer are 11-0 when leading with 2:00 minutes remaining.
ZEKE LEADS THE WAY in 3FG
Ezekiel Charles' 50.8 percent shooting from three-point range would be tops in the Southland Conference if the junior qualified. Charles scored a career-high 15 and hit three triples in the 74-70 win over UIW last Saturday and followed with 15 in Wednesday's victory at Northwestern State.
IN THE RANKINGS
Below are the statistical categories the Privateers and their opponent are nationally-ranked in (top 50 only).
Thru 1/29/18
New Orleans
- Team
- Turnovers Forced per Game (26th, 16.0)
- Individual
-
Travin Thibodeaux
- Field Goal Percentage (48th, 55.7)
Northwestern State
- Team
- Offensive Rebounds per Game (39th, 12.5)
- Individual
- n/a
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE STANDINGS
| SCHOOL |
SLC |
PCT. |
OVERALL |
PCT. |
HOME |
AWAY |
NEUTRAL |
STREAK |
| New Orleans |
8-2 |
0.800 |
11-10 |
0.524 |
7-1 |
4-9 |
0-0 |
W3 |
| Nicholls |
7-2 |
0.778 |
13-9 |
0.591 |
9-3 |
3-6 |
1-0 |
L1 |
| Southeastern La. |
7-2 |
0.778 |
13-9 |
0.591 |
6-2 |
6-7 |
1-0 |
W1 |
| Stephen F. Austin |
6-2 |
0.750 |
17-4 |
0.810 |
12-0 |
5-4 |
0-0 |
W1 |
| Sam Houston State |
6-3 |
0.667 |
12-10 |
0.545 |
9-1 |
2-7 |
1-2 |
L1 |
| Central Arkansas |
6-4 |
0.600 |
12-11 |
0.522 |
7-2 |
5-9 |
0-0 |
W2 |
| Abilene Christian |
5-4 |
0.556 |
13-9 |
0.591 |
7-3 |
5-5 |
1-1 |
L1 |
| Lamar |
5-4 |
0.556 |
13-9 |
0.591 |
8-4 |
5-3 |
0-2 |
W1 |
| McNeese |
4-4 |
0.500 |
7-11 |
0.389 |
5-1 |
2-10 |
0-0 |
L1 |
| A&M-Corpus Christi |
3-5 |
0.375 |
6-12 |
0.333 |
6-3 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
W2 |
| Houston Baptist |
1-8 |
0.111 |
5-17 |
0.227 |
5-4 |
0-12 |
0-1 |
L1 |
| UIW |
0-9 |
0.000 |
5-14 |
0.263 |
5-4 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
L1 |
| Northwestern State |
0-9 |
0.000 |
3-17 |
0.150 |
1-6 |
1-10 |
1-1 |
L12 |
NEXT UP
The Privateers host Nicholls Saturday at 4:15 p.m. prior to their first bye.
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