BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A spot in the College Basketball Tournament semifinals is on the line as the University of New Orleans (16-16) visits Gore Arena to take on Campbell University (17-15) Monday at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
The winner advances to the CBI semifinals Wednesday at a site to be determined.
The game will be streamed on
UNOPrivateers.com and
BigSouthSports.com/watch.
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:
BigSouthSports.com/watch
Tickets:
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/BuyNew.asp?EventID=257745&SponsorID=11625#.Wq3liJPwb-a
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
/PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• The hometown kid took over in the first home postseason game since 1994 as
Lamont Berzat posted his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 assists in the 77-74 win over UTRGV.
• For good measure, the 5-6 freshman added four steals and was 4-of-8 from three-point range.
•
Ezekiel Charles added 12 points with a pair of triples and freshman
Damion Rosser went 5-of-8 for 14 points and five assists.
•
Scott Plaisance and
Diontae Champion swatted away two shots apiece.
• Monday marks the first visit to North Carolina since Nov. 29, 2009 when the Privateers took on North Carolina State.
• On the year,
Makur Puou is averaging 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds,
Troy Green adds 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists and Charles is scoring 7.1 points and shoots 45.5 percent from three-point range.
• In the three postseason games, Berzat has scored 31 points and dished out 20 assists.
•
Note: CBI bracket is reseeded following the quarterfinals game. The semifinals tip off Wednesday, March 21.
• Campbell defeated Miami (Ohio) 97-87 and Chris Clemons scored 32 points, surpassing 30 points for the sixth time this season. One of the nation's leading scorers, Clemons is averaging 24.8 points per game.
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
Wednesday's 77-74 victory over UTRGV marked the first postseason win since 1994 for New Orleans. That game - the last home postseason game - was the first round of the NIT (win over Texas A&M).
Lamont Berzat has taken on the offensive load of late and the round one CBI win gave the hometown kid a rousing ovation as the freshman finished with 21 points and 10 assists, his first career double-double and third of the season for UNO. The starting lineup also featured fellow freshman
Damion Rosser, who added 14 points and five assists in the three-point win.
New Orleans is 6-13 away from Lakefront Arena with its last victory coming in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
ABOUT THE FIGHTING CAMELS
A perimeter oriented team, the Camels are one of the nation's top shooting teams with six players shooting over 35.0 percent from three-point range. Led by First Team All-Big South guard Chris Clemons (24.8 points), Campbell scores 77.2 points per game. Clemons became the first junior in conference history to surpass the 2,000 point plateau. Marcus Burk adds 15.2 points.
As the No. 4 seed in the Big South Tournament, the Camels fell to No. 5 Liberty in the quarterfinals 73-59 before hosting Miami (Ohio) in the opening round of the CBI. Campbell won 97-87 with 16 triples, five off the bench by Damontez Oliver (19 points). Clemons (11-of-19, 4-of-9 3FG) led the squad with 32 points, Burk added 16 (4-of-8 from long distance) and Mogga Lado was 5-of-8 for 11 points off the bench. The Camels shot 62.3 percent from the floor after rallying from a three-point deficit at the half to outscore the RedHawks 53-to-40 in the second half.
THE SERIES
New Orleans and Campbell have never met.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
n/a
YOUNG GUNS
Freshmen continue to play big minutes for New Orleans with the trio of
Lamont Berzat,
Troy Green and
Damion Rosser combining in the backcourt. The three have had their own time to shine in recent weeks with highlight reel plays/games.
Damion Rosser had the dunk of the Southland Conference Tournament,
Troy Green's left-hand alley-oop finish Wednesday and Berzat's 21 points and 10 dimes.
Newcomers
Scott Plaisance,
Ezekiel Charles and
Diontae Champion are also averaging close to 20.0 minutes per game with Scottie P providing an interior defensive presence, Zeke continuing to shoot over 45 percent from three-point range and Champion coming off the best with energy and high-flying ability. In three minutes Wednesday, Champ had two blocks.
HE CANT SHOOT... OR CAN HE
He's the first to admit his shot isn't pretty but it does work.
Lamont Berzat's game has become quite a story in recent weeks. In the three postseason games, the 5-6 New Orleans native has scored 41 points (15 from three-point range) and dished out 20 assists while committing just five turnovers. A menace defensively, he is a bulldog getting after the loose balls with eight steals in the three contests, leading New Orleans to a 2-1 mark.
SCOTTIE P SAYS NO NO NO
After being reinserted into the starting lineup,
Scott Plaisance has swatted away five shots (2-1 record). The redshirt junior is doing so in limited minutes due to foul trouble but continues to anchor the interior defense.
QUIETLY CONSISTENT
Wondering who currently has the most active double digit games on UNO? Look no further than
Ezekiel Charles, who returned from a knee injury with four consecutive 10-plus point contests and is 7-of-14 from three-point range in the three postseason games. On the year, Zeke is averaging 7.1 points and shoots 45.5 percent from long distance.
POSTSEASON
Wednesday's victory was the first postseason (excluding conference tournaments) win for New Orleans since the NIT round one W over Texas A&M in 1994. All-time in NCAA Tournament - both Division I and II - NIT and CBI games, the Privateers are 15-17.
WHITE JERSEYS = DOMINANT
Have to play the Privateers at Lakefront Arena? Be prepared for a battle as New Orleans is 10-3 in NOLA. When wearing the white jerseys, UNO is 11-3 in 2017-18.
OVER 70 POINTS, 12-0 THIS SEASON
They are known as a defensive, inside out team but New Orleans is 12-0 when scoring 70 or more points in 2017-18.
SPLIT IN ONE POSSESSION GAMES
The Privateers had just four one-possession ballgames in the regular season and went 2-2 in such games with wins over Abilene Christian in the Southland Conference opener and Wednesday's 77-74 win over UTRGV in round one of the CBI.
10 ASSISTS
Lamont Berzat's 10 assists in Wednesday's win were the most since
Travin Thibodeaux registered a triple-double in the blowout of Florida College November 25, 2016. Thibs dished 11 dimes in the rout.
SLESS APPROACHING HISTORY
In his seventh season as head coach of the Privateers, head coach
Mark Slessinger is just four games away from tying Ron Greene for most games coached in program history. He currently ranks third in wins. Below are the numbers.
Most Games
211, Ron Greene, 1969-77
207,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
AROUND THE SOUTHLAND
A record seven teams received postseason nods for the Southland Conference with SFA earning the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament bid after winning the conference tournament. The 'Jacks were the No. 14 seed but fell to No. 3 Texas Tech Thursday.
As the No. 8 seed in the National Invitation Tournament, Southeastern Louisiana fell to nationally-ranked and top seed St. Mary's Tuesday.
Sam Houston State will host Eastern Michigan in the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament Monday. Abilene Christian fell to Drake in overtime Monday and Lamar's season came to a close at UTSA Wednesday.
The Privateers defeated UTRGV 77-74 and Central Arkansas upended Seattle in overtime 92-90 to advance to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. Both teams play Monday - UNO at Campbell and UCA hosting Jacksonville State.
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE
Three teams remain in postseason play for the Southland - Sam Houston State (CIT), New Orleans (CBI) and Central Arkansas (CBI). The Bearkats had a first round bye and the Privateers and Bears picked up W's in the opening round of the CBI.
CBI
Below is the full bracket. A reminder that brackets are reseeded following the quarterfinals Monday with the semifinals tipping off Wednesday.
Round One (HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
UTAH VALLEY defeated Eastern Washington 87-65
SAN FRANCISCO defeated Colgate 72-68
North Texas defeated SOUTH DAKOTA 90-77
Mercer defeated GRAND CANYON 78-73
CAMPBELL defeated Miami (Ohio) 97-87
NEW ORLEANS defeated UTRGV 77-74
Central Arkansas defeated SEATTLE 92-90 (OT)
Jacksonville State defeated CANISIUS 80-78 (OT)
Second Round
Utah Valley at SAN FRANCISCO, 9 p.m. CT
Mercer at NORTH TEXAS, 7 p.m. CT
New Orleans at CAMPBELL, 6 p.m. CT
Jacksonville State at CENTRAL ARKANSAS, 5:30 p.m. CT
The CBI is a single-elimination tournament up until the best-of-three finals, with all games played at campus sites. After the First Round games, the Quarterfinal Round took place on Monday, March 19, followed by the Semifinal Round on Wednesday, March 21. Prior to the semifinals, the remaining teams will be re-bracketed. The Finals series is a best-of-three in which one team will host two of the three games. Those games will be played on March 26, March 28, and March 30.
ESPN is again the official television home of the CBI. ESPNU will televise each game of the best-of-three Championship Series. Roy Philpott and Jason Capel will serve as the broadcast team.
The College Basketball Invitational is produced by the Gazelle Group of Princeton, N.J. The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, Legends Classic, and the Gotham Classic. For more information on the Gazelle Group, please visit gazellegroup.com.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
As of March 15
New Orleans
- Forced Turnovers (20th, 15.74)
- Free Throw Attempts (43rd, 746)
Campbell
- Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (27th, 39.1)
- Field Goal Percentage (30th, 48.0)
- Three-Point Field Goals per Game (41st, 9.3)
Individual
- Chris Clemons
- Points Per Game (4th, 24.8)
- Total Free Throws Made (12th, 195)
- Total Points (14th, 719)
- Free Throw Attempts (24th, 226)
- Three-Point Field Goals per Game (29th, 3.03)
- Free Throw Percentage (43rd, 86.3)
- Total Field Goal Attempts (48th, 480)
HOW TO FOLLOW
The game will be streamed for free on the Big South Network. Audio (Jude Young) and live stats as well as video and ticket information are on
UNOPrivateers.com. Fans are encouraged to use SwordsUp and CBI2018 on social media and follow @PrivateersMBB on Twitter and Instagram and like /PrivateersMBB on Facebook for full coverage.
NEWCOMERS
The CBI has given head coach
Mark Slessinger and the Privateers a unique opportunity; four of their five starters are newcomers this season and giving them a taste of postseason after last season's NCAA First Four appearance allows the further growth of the young group as JUCO transfers.
VISITING NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heel State is one of the few places New Orleans hasn't visited much of. Wednesday's game will be the first in North Carolina since the Privateers visited NC State in 2009.
FREE THROWS DOWN THE STRETCH
The Privateers struggled from the charity stripe Wednesday, going 10-of-21 from the free throw line prior to the minute mark. However, down the stretch, UNO drained 5-of-6 to clinch the victory for the Silver and Blue.
BRYSON INJURY UPDATE
Following Wednesday's victory, head coach
Mark Slessinger gave an update on sophomore guard
Bryson Robinson, stating should UNO get past Campbell, Robinson would be on track to return for the CBI semifinals game Wednesday.
Robinson had a tear in his meniscus that sidelined him for the end of the regular season/postseason.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
