LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Privateers doubled up McNeese (8-19, 4-10 Southland) in the second half and the defense collected seven steals in the come from behind 60-51 victory over the Cowboys Saturday afternoon at the H&HP Complex. The victory clinches a spot in the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament for the University of New Orleans (16-10, 11-4 Southland).
Jahmel Myers came off the bench with 13 points – 11 in the first half – and
Troy Green added 10 points, three assists and three steals, and dazzled with a few scoop layups.
Scott Plaisance Jr. took control late and scored nine points in the second half,
Bryson Robinson posted 10 of his 13 in the second and added four assists and
Gerrale Gates continued to pile up the rebounds with nine boards. On Wednesday, Gates picked up a season-high 10.
Damion Rosser's reverse layup steal and dunk late in the second half sealed the victory and series sweep for the Privateers.
The bench scored 25 points and at the line, UNO was 14-of-17.
ON THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SUPPORT
"Our golf team came and supported on their way to a tournament," said head coach
Mark Slessinger. "Our women's team stayed to cheer us on, and it speaks volumes of the athletic department at the University of New Orleans."
ON THE SECOND HALF
"We came out extremely focused in the second half and weren't defeated in the locker room at halftime. Our guys were already thinking about ways to chip away against a good team."
FIRST HALF
Myers and
Troy Green came off the bench with nine early points, but McNeese was efficient offensively and took a 25-12 lead to the 7:00 marker.
The Privateers chipped away with a Myers layup off the
Bryson Robinson handoff and a steal leading to a Green layup, forcing a Cowboys timeout with five minutes remaining.
Myers went 3-of-5 from the field and 5-of-5 at the line for a game-high 11 points in the first half, but the Privateers shot 29.6 percent from the floor. On the other end, Shamarkus Kennedy collected 10 points and six rebounds to pace the Cowboys to a 33-24 edge.
SECOND HALF
McNeese extended its lead to double figures, 44-32, at the under 12 media, but the Privateers went on a quick 7-0 run to force head coach Heath Schroyer to call a timeout.
Following an offensive foul at the 8:00 mark, New Orleans' Plaisance Jr. laid it in after an offensive rebound and showcased his guard skills with a steal and layup.
The senior then stepped back to show his range for his fourth basket of the ballgame and third in 1.5 minutes, making it 49-47 McNeese.
A fancy move by Green just missed but Myers was there to clean it up and knot the game at 49 with 5:11 remaining.
Plaisance Jr. split a pair at the line with 4:21 to go but the free throw put the Privateers in front 50-49 for the first time in this game.
Moments later, back-to-back steals and fast break buckets by Rosser, highlighted by a dunk, made it 54-49 UNO.
Green's scoop layup with 53 ticks to go extended the lead to eight. Officially, it was a 19-3 run.
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