CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The University of New Orleans (9-7, 4-1 Southland) looks to extend its Southland Conference win streak to five Saturday at the American Bank Center when the Privateers visit Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (7-10, 2-2 Southland). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN3.
NOTABLES
• A win would...
- Give UNO five consecutive conference wins for first time since the five wins Feb. 4-23, 2017.
- Mark the best start to Southland play
• UNO has won the last five meetings vs. A&M-Corpus Christi and lead the all-time series 11-7.
•
Ezekiel Charles has reached double figures in five consecutive games and leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game. The senior is also tops in UNO in rebounding (5.6) and three-point shooting (39.0).
•
Troy Green came off the bench with 15 points in the come from behind win over SFA Wednesday.
• It marked the first time the Privateers trailed in the first half, but UNO went to the locker room ahead 29-28.
• The last time the Privateers and Islanders met, New Orleans defeated TAMUCC in the opening round of the 2018 Southland Tournament. In the game,
Damion Rosser soared over a defender for an #SCTop10.
• Nationally, the Privateers are top five in steals (fourth, 10.2/game) and turnovers forced (fifth, 19.31).
• Despite having one player average double figures in scoring on the year, UNO has been led by a different student-athlete five times this season.
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
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Watch (ESPN3):
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3470964/new-orleans-vs-texas-amcorpus-christi
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
The Privateers continue to defend their home, erasing a 17-4 SFA lead, improving to 4-1 in Southland play, upending the preseason favorite 'Jacks 68-61.
The Privateers and Islanders battled three times last season and twice the previous year, including meetings in the Southland Tournament. In 2017, UNO defeated the 'Ders in overtime to win the Southland Conference Title and last season, won the opening round meeting in Katy.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS
2-2 in conference play, Willis Wilson's team fell to Sam Houston State 72-50 Wednesday. The Bearkats lead the conference with a 4-0 mark. Tre Gray led the Islanders with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
THE SERIES
The Privateers trails the series 5-1 but the last time the 'Jacks visited Lakefront Arena, UNO took down SFA, 82-65.
LINEUP CHANGES LEAD TO EARLY SUCCESS
With injuries to
Lamont Berzat and
Scott Plaisance Jr., head coach
Mark Slessinger made some lineup adjustments, starting
Bryson Robinson,
Ezekiel Charles,
Damion Rosser,
Gerrale Gates and
Jahmel Myers (three underclassmen including two true freshmen). The lineup is 3-0.
COUNT ON ZEKE
Senior
Ezekiel Charles posted a career-high 22 points in the overtime win at Lamar, but the highlight was his offensive rebound that led to a putback with 0.3 seconds remaining to force the OT. On the year, Zeke is the lone Privateer averaging double figures, but he also leads the club in rebounding, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game.
FIRST HALF DOMINANCE
Through four Southland games, the Privateers did not trail in the first half and led by as much as nine points in each game. In Wednesday's win over SFA, the Privateers, who trailed by as much as 13, rallied back to end the first half ahead 29-28.
MR. 100
Head coach
Mark Slessinger became the third Privateers leader to reach the century mark following the 78-71 overtime win over Lamar (Jan. 9). In his eighth season at the helm, coach Sless has led UNO to back-to-back postseasons (NCAA First Four, 2017 & CBI Second Round, 2018).
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY... GUARD EDITION
With the injury to
Lamont Berzat, UNO has counted on junior walk-on
Larry Robinson III. LRIII continues to make the most of his minutes, collecting three steals and four assists in the overtime win at Lamar. In the win over McNeese, Robinson III scored five points in 11 minutes of action.
LRIII was a sparkplug, draining two triples and the junior finished the evening with nine points.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
