HAMMOND, La. – Spend your Valentine's Day with the University of New Orleans (13-11, 10-3 Southland) men's basketball team as the Privateers head to Southeastern Louisiana University (16-10, 10-3 Southland) for the first of two matchups. Wednesday's tip from the University Center is set for 7 p.m.
There will be a fan bus leaving from UNO. For just $40, fans will receive a ticket to the game and food and refreshments on the bus.
The Privateers, Lions and Sam Houston State University are in a three-way tie for second with the Bearkats set to take on league-leading Nicholls State University tomorrow.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
http://sidearmstats.com/uno/mbball/
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Watch:
https://www.lionsports.net/watch/?Live=635&type=Live
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
/PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• The regular season is winding down and it's a battle to remain in the No. 2 spot of the Southland Conference Wednesday when the Privateers visit the Lions at 7 p.m.
• The clubs are both 10-3 in conference play with the two other No. 1 and No. 2 teams also playing Wednesday - Nicholls vs. Sam Houston State.
• With five regular season games remaining, the defending Southland Conference champions have the toughest end to the campaign with second place SLU, McNeese, second place SHSU, league-leading Nicholls and the finale versus the Lions on the docket.
•
Travin Thibodeaux's 16.8 points rank fourth in the league and his 55.4 percent shooting is good for third. The senior scored 16 points and added two steals off the bench in Saturday's win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
•
Bryson Robinson reached double figures again with 15 points and the team's leading distributor dished out three assists without committing a turnover at the Ders. He is second on the team, averaging 9.4 points per game.
•
Ezekiel Charles' 46.7 percent shooting from three-point range would be tops in the league if it qualified.
• Last season, the Privateers and Lions split the meetings with New Orleans upending Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond.
• Next Up: Senior Night at Lakefront Arena for men's basketball as
Jorge Rosa,
Matthew Jiles,
Travin Thibodeaux,
Makur Puou and
Michael Zeno Feb. 17.
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS
With five regular season games remaining, the Privateers are a game back of Nicholls for first place in the Southland Conference. UNO is tied with Southeastern Louisiana and Sam Houston State and four of the final five games are against the Colonels, Lions and Bearkats.
Travin Thibodeaux continues his stellar senior season with 16.8 points per game on 55.4 percent shooting.
ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
The numbers are similar to those of the Privateers with the Lions counting on a balanced offensive attack. Jordan Capps leads the club in scoring with 13.0 points, followed by Marlain Veal's 12.2 points. Veal adds 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals per contest.
The Lions are 7-3 at the University Center.
THE SERIES
The Privateers lead the series 11-4 but Southeastern Louisiana picked up a W in the last victory, 63-58, in March.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: 11-4
Home: 5-2 | Away: 6-1 | Neutral: 0-1 | Southland: 5-3 | Streak: L1
01/24/74 H W 70-67
01/06/75 A W 65-62
12/15/79 H W 60-57
12/20/80 H W 52-50
12/16/81 A W 65-60
12/08/01 A W 58-47
01/30/14 A * W 90-85
02/20/14 H * W 67-58
02/23/15 A * W 74-73
03/05/15 H * W 85-79
02/24/16 A * L 81-93
03/03/16 H * L 60-61
03/09/16 N/1 L 74-84
02/11/17 A * W 60-52
03/02/17 H * L 58-63
* – Southland Conference
1 – Southland Conference Tournament (Katy, Texas)
800 WATCH
The next win will be the 800th of the Privateer men's basketball program. New Orleans men's hoops is 799-605 since becoming a varsity sport in 1969-70.
SLESS REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
Head coach
Mark Slessinger is just 10 wins away from 100 in his Privateer career. With Saturday's 62-53 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Slessinger earned his 90th victory at the helm of UNO men's hoops.
DEFEND THE LAKEFRONT
New Orleans is 8-2 at Lakefront Arena with just two home games remaining this season. The Privateers will host McNeese on Homecoming Day February 17. The game is also senior day for five seniors -
Matthew Jiles,
Jorge Rosa,
Michael Zeno,
Makur Puou and
Travin Thibodeaux. The regular season concludes with the Privateers playing host to Southeastern Louisiana February 28.
BATTLE OF THE TOP
Louisiana is home of three of the top four teams in the Southland - specifically the short bus trip around New Orleans in Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana.
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 has 10 in 2017-18. The senior has reached double figures in 17 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, 12 behind Ron Greene.
Most Games
211, Ron Greene, 1969-77
199,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
185, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
Most Wins
146, Ron Greene, 1969-77
126, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
90,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
ZEKE LEADS THE WAY in 3FG
Ezekiel Charles' 47.9 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 (Jan. 20) and followed with 15 in Wednesday's victory at Northwestern State (Jan. 24).
IN THE RANKINGS
Below are the statistical categories the Privateers and their opponent are nationally-ranked in (top 50 only).
Thru 2/12/18
New Orleans
- Team
- Turnovers Forced per Game (19th, 16.17)
- Steals per Game (46th, 7.5)
- Individual
- n/a
Southeastern Louisiana
- Team
- Turnovers Forced (48th, 15.23)
- Individual
- Marlain Veil
- Total Steals (14th, 58)
- Total Assists (16th, 160)
- Assists per Game (17th, 6.2)
- Steals per Game (20th, 2.23)
NEXT UP
The Privateers host McNeese for Senior Day Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
