NEW ORLEANS – A battle of top teams closes out the home portion for the 2018-19 regular season as the University of New Orleans (16-10, 11-4 Southland) hosts Sam Houston State University (19-9, 14-1 Southland) Wednesday evening at 7:02 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and ESPN apps.
TIP OFF
• New Orleans closes out its home schedule Wednesday on ESPN3 when the Privateers welcome Sam Houston State.
• No. 2 UNO is 11-2 at Lakefront Arena. No. 1 Sam Houston State is 7-8 away from Huntsville.
• The numbers are similar with the Privateers defense taking the margin... UNO is No. 3 in turnovers forced (18.42) and No. 5 in steals per game (9.5).
• Since the loss of leading scorer and rebounder
Ezekiel Charles, New Orleans is 3-0 and is counting on contributions from all student-athletes.
•
Gerrale Gates posted 10 rebounds and nine rebounds in back-to-back games.
•
Jahmel Myers matched his season-high of 13 points in Saturday's come from behind 60-51 victory at McNeese.
• Should the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament begin today, UNO and Sam Houston State would automatically advance to the semifinals. UNO would play Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals matchup with the Bearkats competing in the other contest.
• The 9.5 steals per game are second most in program history behind the 9.607 in 1985-86.
• Tickets for the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament are available now! The Privateers clinched their spot in the tourney with Saturday's victory over McNeese.
• UNO has won seven of its last eight games and a win Wednesday would tie the season-high of four straight W's (twice).
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
Audio:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Video:
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3490716/sam-houston-state-vs-new-orleans-m-basketball
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
Without its leading scorer and one of the conference's leading three-point shooters, New Orleans rallied from a 33-24 deficit at halftime Saturday to clinch a playoff spot with a 60-51 win over McNeese. The Privateers are currently No. 2 in the Southland standings, behind Wednesday's opponent Sam Houston State.
In Saturday's win,
Jahmel Myers reached double figures for the second consecutive game with 13 points,
Bryson Robinson added 13 points and
Troy Green came off the bench with 11 points and four assists.
ABOUT THE BEARKATS
A double overtime victory over HBU Saturday, Sam Houston State led by as much as 25 with six minutes left in regulation. Josh Delaney posted a team-high 30 points, followed by Cameron Delaney's 25 and Marcus Harris' 18. The trio hit 14 triples.
On the year, Cameron Delaney paces the club with 13.3 points per game.
THE SERIES
New Orleans and Sam Houston State have met once in the regular season and once in the Southland Tournament in 2017 and 2018. In the 2017 conference championship season, the Privateers defeated the Bearkats en route to the championship.
If the playoffs started today, the clubs wouldn't meet until the championship if Sam Houston defeats its semifinals opponent and the Privateers upend their opponent Friday.
All-time, the Bearkats lead the series 9-3.
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 in third, the Privateers would not participate until day two, having earned a single bye.
UNDER SLESS
Since joining the Southland Conference, the Privateers are 55-50 in league play.
BERZAT IS BACK
Lamont Berzat made his return to the Privateers February 20 in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. Berzat missed two months due to injury and returned in limited minutes for UNO.
B ROB AND JORGE FOR THREEEEEEEEEE
Bryson Robinson posted a team-high 23 points in Wednesday's 89-68 win over Southeastern Louisiana. It was his fourth 20+ point game this season. In his third start of the season,
Jorge Rosa posted a career-high 18 points - all from three-point range.
DAME
Damion Rosser dished out six assists and added two blocked shots. The sophomore is averaging 8.5 points on 50.3 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
SCOTTIE NO NO NO
Scott Plaisance Jr. is swatting away shots at will inside, with 12 blocks in the last seven games, including two in Saturday's win versus A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 16). The senior posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in Feb. 9's loss to Nicholls.
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. In Saturday's win at McNeese, UNO went 14-of-17 from the charity stripe.
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 9-0 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 12-2.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
