DALLAS – Troy Green shined in his second trip to Moody Coliseum, finishing with a career-high 20 points to pace four double-digit scorers for New Orleans (1-2) in the 77-64 setback at SMU (2-0) Tuesday. Green went 8-of-16 and added seven rebounds and two steals,
Damion Rosser recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a block and steal,
Gerrale Gates dominated the second half to post a line of 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists and
Bryson Robinson added 11 points. The Privateers committed just eight turnovers.
HEAR FROM COACH
ON SECOND HALF ADJUSTMENT
"At halftime, they had eight offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points. We addressed it and I'm proud of the way our guys came out in the second half, especially when you consider the height we give up. We held a good SMU team to three offensive rebounds and zero second-chance points in the second. I gave our team a challenge and they solved it."
GERRALE GATES' SECOND HALF DOMINANCE
"G was huge in the second half and that's saying a lot about the reigning Freshman of the Year. He came up with big rebounds and hit on some key free throws.
ON TROY GREEN
"To see the evolution of
Troy Green from sophomore to junior year is a testament to Troy. He came up big for us tonight and continues to show improvement."
ON THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE
"Damion plays 1-5 for us. He has a great attitude and does a little of everything."
OVERALL
"Tonight was a solid team effort. We dressed everyone that traveled, and every student-athlete contributed for us. I'm not happy with the result, but I'm extremely proud of how our guys improved from Saturday to Tuesday with just one practice between."
FIRST HALF
The Privateers were aggressive early as Green scored the game's first points and Robinson followed with a four-point play. After forcing an SMU miss, Robinson found Rosser on back-to-back plays for an alley-oop and cutting dunk, respectively, before Bryson's second basket put New Orleans ahead eight prior to the under-16 media.
A mini-Mustang run cut the Privateer lead, but Robinson and Green rewarded themselves after long rebounds with contested finishes at the basket to make it 19-14 UNO.
SMU switched to zone and took its first lead of the game with 9:53 remaining, but the lead wouldn't last as Green put the Privateers back in front with 8:13 to go. The junior showed off his touch with a mid-range jumper to become the first to reach double figures at the 7:05 mark.
Moments later, ol' reliable Green put New Orleans back in front 26-25 after another strong finish at the basket.
SMU scored 10 unanswered for a nine-point edge before
Lamont Berzat's corner triple ended the run.
Rosser ended the half with his fourth field goal to make it 39-33 'Stangs at the break. Green led all scorers with 12 on 5-of-8 shooting and added six rebounds, Rosser posted eight points and three assists and Robinson added eight points and two dimes. Isiaha Mike led SMU with 11 points and pulled down six boards, second to Feron Hunt, who was a menace on the glass with five of his nine first-half rebounds coming on the offensive end.
SECOND HALF
The Privateers began the half going 5-of-6 from the free throw line with the Mustangs matching but from the field to extend their lead to 14 at the under-16 media.
Despite trailing by as much as 14, the resilient New Orleans squad pushed and
Key's layup, Robinson's triple and Gates' jumper with 7:02 to go made it a six-point ballgame.
The Mustangs answered with seven of their own to extend the lead back to double figures at the under-four media.
Gates posted 11 points and seven rebounds in the stanza and Rosser added eight boards. The Privateers battled back and forced the Mustangs to hit tough shots in the 77-64 SMU win.
INSIDE THE BOX
Jaylen Key pulled down six boards in his second start of the season. With the two three-pointers, Robinson tied
Gabe Corchiani for fifth in career threes made with 123.
Mike posted 22 points and eight boards, Hunt finished with a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds and Tyson Jolly registered 20 points.
NEXT UP
The Privateers conclude the week at Mississippi State Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network +.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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