NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans (3-3) closes out its three-game homestand versus the University of South Alabama (4-4) Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
PROMOTIONS
Wednesday evening is Finals Frenzy Night on the Lakefront with students receiving supplies for finals week, along with a free shuttle and food/drink discounts at Sunken Saloon inside the arena.
NCAA STATS
The updated NCAA Division I statistical rankings were released Tuesday and New Orleans ranks second in steals per game and fourth in turnovers forced.
Entering Wednesday, the Privateers are recording 11.5 steals per game and forcing 20.67 turnovers. UNO is also in the top 10 in assists per game as the selflessness shows with 19.0 assists/game.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
https://unoprivateers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Stream/Watch:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
TIP OFF
• The homestand concludes with New Orleans hosting South Alabama in Lakefront Arena for the first time since Feb. 4, 2010 Wednesday at 7 p.m.
• The Privateers begin the month of December 3-3 with a 3-1 mark at home.
• UNO ranks second in the nation in steals with 11.5 per game.
• Top 10 rankings include turnovers forced (20.67, fourth) and assists per game (19.0, ninth).
• In the overtime setback vs. Louisiana last week,
Damion Rosser posted his first career double-double and the first for the program since
Lamont Berzat collected 20 points and 10 assists in the CBI Opening Round win over UTRGV. Rosser finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
•
Scott Plaisance Jr. is averaging 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks to anchor the interior defense.
•
Gerrale Gates is shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and has reached double figures in four games, including a season-high 17 on 8-of-13 shooting last week. On the year, GG is averaging 9.5 points and 6.2 rebounds.
• The balanced offensive attack is led by
Ezekiel Charles' 13.3 points per contest. Zeke is shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 48.1 from long distance.
• New Orleans leads the Southland Conference in scoring (78.7 points), blocks (4.83), assists (19.0) and steals (11.50). The team ranks second in field goal defense (41.2), rebounds (39.5) and assist to turnover ratio (1.15).
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
Atop the Southland Conference and ranked nationally in several statistical categories, New Orleans is 3-1 at Lakefront Arena. The Privateers have four players averaging 9.0+ points, led by
Ezekiel Charles' 13.3 points per game.
Zeke is leading the conference in three-point shooting, connecting on 48.1 percent from long distance.
Head coach
Mark Slessinger took on South Alabama once during his UNO tenure (last season) and then freshman
Lamont Berzat's half-court shot just missed at the buzzer.
Troy Green and
Bryson Robinson are tied for third in the league in steals at 1.8 per contest.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS
4-4 on the young season under first-year head coach and former Nicholls leader Richie Riley, South Alabama is 0-3 on the road in 2018-19. Kory Holden made his season debut against Southern Miss. after recovering from an injury and scored 28 in a losing effort. He followed up with 12 versus Florida A&M. Rodrick Sikes is averaging 16.4 points per game, and Josh Ajayi is scoring 11.9 points and pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game. The team is comprised of 10 student-athletes.
THE SERIES
New Orleans is trailing the series 29-23 and is looking for its first win vs. USA since January 8, 2005 (home win 71-51).
A WIN WOULD...
- End the homestand 2-1 and improve the home record to 4-1.
- Snap an 11-game streak versus the Jaguars
- Be the 355th career home victory (between Lakefront Arena/HPC)
SWARMING DEFENSE
The Privateers are second in the league and country in steals per game (11.5). New Orleans is fourth in NCAA Division I in turnovers forced (20.67).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Damion Rosser posted his first double-double as a Privateers last week with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the overtime game versus Louisiana-Lafayette. It was the team's first double-double since
Lamont Berzat's 20 points and 10 assists in the CBI Opening Round victory over UTRGV last season.
MYERS DUNKS FOR FIRST FIELD GOAL
Jahmel Myers' dunked for his first career field goal in the 87-59 victory over Pensacola Christian. He became one of eight student-athletes this season to dunk for his first career field goal. (NOTE: List compiled by sports information directors and NCAA. If edits need to be made, please contact Queliz at kqueliz@uno.edu).
Matt Bradley | Cal
Zion Griffin | Iowa State
Kelby Kramer | Montana
Jahmel Myers | New Orleans
Kevin Samuel | TCU
Mitchell Seraille | SFA
Obi Toppin | Dayton
Connor Vanover | Cal?
ZEKE SCORES 20... AGAIN
Ezekiel Charles scored 20 points for the first time as a Privateer at UAB. More than a week later and off the bench, Charles did the same, pouring in a team-high 20 points in the rout over Governors State. He became the third active New Orleans student-athlete to post a 20 point performance, joining
Bryson Robinson (twice last season) and
Lamont Berzat (once). Berzat was the most recent with the double-double in the CBI opening round win over UTRGV.
COUNT ON SCOTTIE P
He's second in scoring and leads in blocks per game.
Scott Plaisance Jr. faces his former club Wednesday for the second time as a Privateer. In fact, he made his UNO debut at Louisiana last season after sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. On the year, Scottie P is averaging 10.0 points on 52.6 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and a block.
A LITTLE TINKERING
Three UNO student-athletes started all six games early this season -
Lamont Berzat,
Gerrale Gates and
Scott Plaisance Jr. Ezekiel Charles earned five starts,
Troy Green four,
Damion Rosser three and
Bryson Robinson the other.
FUTURE PRIVATEERS
Early signing period for 2019-20 men's basketball began Wednesday, November 14 at 7 a.m. local time. The Privateers signed Kmani Doughty (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Florida Prep), Raquan Brown (Mint Hill, N.C. / Butler HS), Ahren Freeman (Orange Park, Fla. / Providence School of Jacksonville) and Rodney Carson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Combine Academy) compile the fall 2018 signing class.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
- New Orleans
- Steals per Game - 2nd (11.5)
- Turnovers Forced - 4th (20.67)
- Assists per Game - 9th (19.0)
- Fewest Fouls - 18th (106)
- Field Goals per Game - 30th (49.8)
- Total Steals - 31st (69)
- Offensive Rebounds per Game - 21st (14.0)
- Turnover Margin - 33rd (4.2)
- South Alabama
- Total Blocks - 20th (42)
- Blocked Shots - 32nd (5.2)
- Individuals
- Rodrick Sikes
- Three-Point Field Goal Attempts - 8th (79)
- Three-Point Field Goals per Game - 39th (3.25)
- Three-Point Field Goals Made - 39th (26)
- Trhae Mitchell
- Total Blocks - 23rd (19)
- Blocked Shots per Game - 28th (2.38)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
