MARK SLESSINGER POSTGAME AUDIO
NEW ORLEANS – Bryson Robinson scored 22 second-half points but the New Orleans Privateers' (4-7, 0-2 Southland) comeback fell just short as the Sam Houston State Bearkats (8-4, 2-0 Southland) prevailed 87-79 on Saturday afternoon in Huntsville, Texas.
Robinson led the scoring for the Privateers with 24 points, including 22 in the second half. Robinson also hit on all nine of his free throw attempts on the night.
Troy Green matched his career high scoring 20 on 7-of-13 shooting with six rebounds. Three Bearkats finished in double-figures including Zach Nutell (19 points), Kai Mitchell (16 points) and Dainan Swoope (12 points).
FIRST HALF
Defense seemed optional at times in a high scoring first half. New Orleans and Sam Houston exchanged the lead eight times and were tied another four times in a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes. Sam Houston State connected on their final seven shots of the half to give themselves a 49-41 lead going into the break.
The Privateers were led in the first half by Green with 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Coming into the game with 23 points this season
Lamont Berzat had 11 in the first half and connected on 3-of-5. Nutell scored 16 points for the Bearkats on 6-of-8 shooting including a trio of 3-pointers. Both teams shot red hot in the first half with the Privateers connecting on 50% of their shots, while the Bearkats connected on 59%.
SECOND HALF
Sam Houston State continued their strong offense, while the Privateers went cold. The Bearkats extended their lead to 23 with 8:43 to play but
Mark Slessinger's Privateers showed their trademark undefeated attitude and kept fighting.
Bryson Robinson led the comeback scoring 12 points in about three minutes of play late in the second half. A pair of
Jaylen Key free throws made it 82-76 SHSU with under four minutes to play but the Bearkats were able to hold on for the victory.
COACH MARK SLESSINGER
"I love our will, I love our resolve, I love the fact that we keep problem solving – keep working. Defensively this was not our best day, we haven't had a day like this in years."
"I'm very very proud about how we continued to fight, we had some guys get going and figured some stuff out. Disappointed we were not able to come out of here with a win.
"I'm still positive - we're playing a lot of combinations right now - I'm far from being down on this team - trust me."
(ON HOLDING SHSU SCORELESS FROM THE FLOOR IN THE FINAL SIX MINUTES OF THE SECOND HALF)
"We got way more detail oriented about how we were going to guard. With a shorter rotation we had to have guys playing fearless, relentless defense."
NEXT UP
The Privateers return to action on Saturday Dec. 28 when they travel to the FedEx Forum to take on Penny Hardaway's nationally-ranked Memphis Tigers at 12:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game on ESPN2 or listen live on the Privateers Sports Network (NASH 106.1 FM) with Jude Young and
Cory Dixon on the call.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersMBB on Twitter, @PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like /PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
