NEW ORLEANS – Tied for third in the Southland Conference, the University of New Orleans (14-10, 9-4 Southland) and Southeastern Louisiana University (13-13, 9-4 Southland) battle for the first of two regular season meetings Wednesday at Lakefront Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
TIP OFF
• New Orleans concludes its homestand versus Southeastern Louisiana in a rivalry game between the No. 3 teams in the Southland Conference.
• The Privateers are 10-2 at Lakefront Arena this season and 12-2 in Louisiana in 2018-19.
• The Privateers continue to improve from the charity stripe as the team went 20-of-24 in Saturday's victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
• The win marked the seventh time the Privateers connect on 20 or more from the line.
• Freshman
Gerrale Gates went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe for 14 points and added three blocks in 27 minutes.
•
Troy Green came off the bench with nine points and two steals and
Jahmel Myers posted nine points, eight rebounds and a steal in 29 minutes.
• In Saturday's win over the Islanders, New Orleans led for 36:44.
• Entering the week, New Orleans is No. 3 nationally in turnovers forced (18.79) and No. 4 in steals per game (9.8).
• UNO is facing one of the hottest teams in the Southland as the Lions have won five in a row. Marlain Veal and Moses Greenwood are near the top of the league in points, rebounds, steals and assists.
• New Orleans heads to McNeese Saturday before returning to Lakefront Arena for one final regular season game --- Feb. 27 vs. Sam Houston State on ESPN3 at 7:02 p.m.
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
Stream:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
The loss of the clubs leading scorer and rebounder forced a lineup change but the Privateers led for the majority of Saturday's victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. New Orleans shot 83.3 percent from the line and 54.5 percent from long distance with three buzzer beating triples. Freshman
Gerrale Gates scored 14 points and swatted away three shots.
Three players dished out three assists and the defense continued to force turnovers at will as A&M-Corpus Christi finished with 19 miscues. It was the 18th time UNO has forced 15+ turnovers. The Privateers are 13-5 when doing so.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Entering Lakefront Arena on a five-game win streak, Southeastern Louisiana features two players in double figures - Marlain Veal's 16.4 points and Moses Greenwood's 15.8. Veal adds 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals and Greenwood is shooting 59.4 percent from the floor while pulling down 7.4 boards.
THE SERIES
Despite leading the all-time series 11-6, the Privateers are 1-6 in the previous seven meetings with the Lions. The last time Southeastern came to the Lakefront, UNO fell just short 68-64.
SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Purchase your tickets to the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas March 13-16 by visiting UNOPrivateers.com/SLC. Full books for all sessions are just $80. Currently tied for third, the Privateers would not participate until day two, having earned a single bye.
THIRD PLACE
Seeding always plays a big part and with five regular season games remaining, the Privateers sit in third place (tied) in the Southland at 9-4, behind Abilene Christian (10-3) and Sam Houston State (12-1). New Orleans is tied with Southeastern Louisiana. The Bearkats enter Lakefront Arena Feb. 27.
UNDER SLESS
Since joining the Southland Conference, the Privateers are 53-50 in league play.
DAME
Damion Rosser continues to do a little of everything, averaging 8.7 points on 50.0 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals.
GG SEASON HIGH
Gerrale Gates continues to show his growth on both ends of the floor. The true freshman finished with a season-high 18 points in just 20 minutes Saturday vs. UIW (Feb. 2) and added five rebounds, a block and a steal. The North Carolina native is averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and a steal per game.
In Saturday's win, Gates went 9-of-10 from the line and finished with 14 points, three blocks and three assists.
SCOTTIE NO NO NO
Scott Plaisance Jr. is swatting away shots at will inside, with 11 blocks in the last five games, including two in Saturday's win versus A&M-Corpus Christi. The senior posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in Feb. 9's loss to Nicholls.
HIP HIP JORGE
Reinserted into the starting lineup Saturday, senior
Jorge Rosa will look to provide perimeter offense for the Privateers. In his second start of the season, Rosa drained two triples in 19 minutes of action. On the year, he is shooting 35.3 percent from three-point range.
FREE THROW IMPROVEMENT
In Saturday's victory vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 16), the Privateers connected on 20-of-24 from the line, making 20+ free throws for the seventh time this season.
SWARMING DEFENSE
With a defense in the top five nationally in steals and turnovers, UNO has forced 15+ turnovers 18 times this season and 20+ seven times. The Privateers have collected 10+ steals 12 times. UNO is 13-5 when forcing 15-plus miscues.
WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN
Head coach
Mark Slessinger said the club is as balanced offensively as any team in the conference. New Orleans is 8-0 when four or more players reached double figures.
REACH 70? IT'S ALL UNO
New Orleans will look to continue to surpass the 70-point plateau. When the Privateers score 70 or more points, they are 11-2.
PRO UPDATE
Below is a list of former Privateers playing professionally * (from EuroBasket)
1 - Erik Thomas (6'5''-SF-95, graduated '17, plays pro in Argentina) - 10.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.2bpg and 1.8spg in five games
2 - Kyndall Dykes (6'4''-SG-87, graduated '09, plays in Romania) - 18.6ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.4apg and 1.2spg
3 - Nate Frye (6'0''-PG-94, graduated '17, currently in Uruguay) - 12.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg and 1.3spg in 25 games
4 -
Michael Zeno (6'6''-G/F-95, graduated '18, plays pro in Norway) - 18.7ppg, 9.8rpg and 3.8apg.
5 - Johnell Smith (5'11''-PG-80, graduated '04, plays in Sweden) - 4.4ppg and 2.0rpg in five games.
6 -
Travin Thibodeaux (6'8''-F-96, graduated '18, currently in the NBA G League) - averaging 3.3ppg and 4.3rpg.
7 - Bo McCalebb (5'10''-PG-85, graduated '08, plays pro in Spain) - averaging 9.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 3.9apg and 1.3spg in 19 games.
8 - Kevin Brown (6'3''-G-92, graduated '15, plays in Albania) - scored 14 points and had 4 steals. It was his first game for Teuta this season.
9 -
Jaroslav Tyrna (6'10''-C-86, graduated '11, currently in Czech Republic) - double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 10 rebounds in 30 minutes. It was his first game for Sokol Vysehrad this season.
10 - Cory Dixon (6'7''-F-90, graduated '14, plays pro in Canada) - recorded 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was his first game for Sudbury Five this season.
Other former University of New Orleans players, who play in pro basketball:
Jairo Mendoza (6'8''-F/C-85) plays for Piratas de Bogota in Colombian LPB
Lovell Cook (6'7''-G/F-90) plays for Atletico Nacional in Panamanian LPB
Kevin Hill (6'7''-F-92) plays for Ohrid AV in FYR Macedonian Prva Liga
Tevin Broyles (6'4''-G-95) plays for Teuta in Albanian Superliga
Issac Mack (6'1''-G-92) plays for Al Wehda in Saudi Arabian SBL
Destin Damachoua (6'1''-G-86) plays for SO Pont de Cheruy Charvieu Chavanoz in French NM2
Terrance Syon (6'6''-F) plays for Dallas Mustangs in the NABL
SOCIAL MEDIA
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