THIBODAUX, La. – The Privateers head to their final road game of the regular season Saturday to take on top ranked Nicholls State University (19-9, 13-2 Southland) Saturday at 6:32 p.m. at Christopher Stopher Gym. The University of New Orleans (14-13, 11-5 Southland) and the Colonels can be watched on ESPN3 and all ESPN platforms.
David Saltzman and Jordy Hultberg will be on the call on ESPN3 and
Jude Young has the call on
UNOPrivateers.com.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/uno/mbball/
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Watch:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/uno/mbball/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
/PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• The Privateers head to Nicholls tomorrow at 6:32 p.m. looking to dethrone the conference-leading Colonels.
• New Orleans is coming off a 57-54 loss at Sam Houston State Wednesday.
Makur Puou posted his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Puou has back-to-back 20-point games and is averaging 9.1 points on 50.5 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks.
•
Diontae Champion scored nine points and added nine rebounds and two steals at the Bearkats. The Privateers wing made a highlight reel block in the first half on a chasedown play.
•
Troy Green is averaging 7.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
• Wednesday's game was
Tyren Harrison's first start since the season opener at St. John's. He is averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds.
• New Orleans fell to Nicholls 81-64 in the earlier meeting.
• The Privateers clinched a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament with last week's W over McNeese. Go watch the defending conference tournament champs in Katy as tickets are available on UNOPrivateers.com/SLC.
• Following Saturday's game, the Privateers host Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the Southland Digital Network and Eleven Sports.
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans looks to dethrone top ranked Nicholls in Thibodaux. The Colonels are 11-3 in Christopher Stopher Gymnasium.
Makur Puou has back-to-back 20-point games and is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound performance at Sam Houston State, his first career double-double.
Puou is expected to start along with
Diontae Champion,
Damion Rosser,
Troy Green and
Tyren Harrison.
ABOUT NICHOLLS
Nicholls (19-9, 13-2 SLC) has won six in a row and 11 of the last 12 to continue its best run in Southland Conference play since 1998. The Colonels are coming off a 96-79 win at McNeese where Rutledge broke the program record with 11 3-pointers. The Gautier, Mississippi, native also surpassed the school's single-season mark, having hit 87 triples with three games left to play in the regular season.
Nicholls boasts an 11-3 record at home this season, including 7-1 in league play. Peters fronts the team in scoring (19.6 ppg) and assists (4.2) while Saddler spearheads the Colonels with 6.7 boards per game. Considering conference play, Nicholls ranks first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.411) and rebounding margin (+3.3).
THE SERIES
New Orleans is 18-10 all-time versus Nicholls.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: 18-10
Home: 9-3 | Away: 5-7 | Neutral: 2-0 | Southland: 4-5 | Streak L1
12/06/69 A L 80-82 (ot)
02/05/70 H W 101-88
12/10/70 H W 108-94
02/04/71 A W 100-80
02/24/75 H W 92-75
12/01/75 A W 98-91
12/03/83 H W 68-66 (ot)
01/21/85 A L 66-71
12/01/89 N/1 W 63-44
12/08/90 H W 88-66
02/23/91 A W 67-52
12/18/99 H/2 W 55-51
12/12/00 H/3 W 68-64
11/24/01 A W 80-66
12/01/07 H L 60-75
11/19/08 A L 62-79
11/26/12 A L 69-92
12/12/12 H W 79-76
01/02/14 A * L 83-88
02/13/14 H * W 70-64
02/02/15 A * L 55-67
03/02/15 H * L 78-79 (ot)
03/11/15 N/4 W 82-73
02/01/16 H * W 74-53
02/29/16 A * L 76-80
02/04/17 H * W 78-69
03/04/17 A * W 74-64
02/03/18 H * L 61-84
* - Southland game
1 – McDonald's Zip Classic (Akron, Ohio)
2 – Alario Center (Westwego, La.)
3 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
4 – Southland Conference Tournament (Katy, Texas)
SCORE IN BUNCHES
The offense clicked at a crucial time Saturday with New Orleans picked up 27 assists in the 90-74 victory over McNeese.
WHAT A SENIOR DAY
For the Privateers, senior day was an amazing day as
Makur Puou posted a career-high 23 points on on 9-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds. Fellow senior
Travin Thibodeaux added 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds - the majority in the second half - and
Michael Zeno dished out five assists in the 90-74 win over the Cowboys.
PASS THE ROCK
The Privateers dished out 27 assists in Saturday's W vs. McNeese. The total was the most since Dec. 14, 2013 versus Champions Baptist.
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Privateers started hot, played well with a lead and held on down the stretch as the University of New Orleans men's basketball team punched its ticket to the Southland Conference Tournament championship contest as the top-seeded Privateers defeated No. 5 seed Sam Houston State, 75-63, in a semifinals matchup at 5 p.m. in the Leonard E. Merrell Center. The win saw the Privateers advance to the conference championship game for the first time since the 2004 Sun Belt Tournament.
WHATCHA KNOW ABOUT THAT
With two games remaining, New Orleans will be on ESPN3 or the Southland Conference Digital Network for all of them. Saturday's contest at Nicholls will be on ESPN3 and Feb. 28's bout versus the Lions will be streamed on the SLC Digital Network.
SLESS REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
Head coach
Mark Slessinger is just nine wins away from 100 in his Privateer career. With Saturday's 90-74 win vs. McNeese, Slessinger looks to become the third coach in program history to win 100 games.
DEFEND THE LAKEFRONT
New Orleans is 9-2 at Lakefront Arena with just one home game remaining this season.
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, 9 behind Ron Greene.
Most Games
211, Ron Greene, 1969-77
202,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
ZEKE LEADS THE WAY in 3FG
Ezekiel Charles' 46.3 percent shooting from three-point range would be tops in the Southland Conference if the junior qualified.
NEXT UP
The Privateers end the regular season at home versus Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be on the Southland Digital Network and Eleven Sports.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
