NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of New Orleans (12-9, 7-3 Southland) goes for win No. 4 in a row Wednesday when the Privateers visit Prather Coliseum and Northwestern State University (8-14, 3-6 Southland) at 6:30 p.m.
The Privateers look for the series sweep over the Demons after defeating NSU 72-64 last week in Lakefront Arena.
TIP OFF
• The Privateers go for another series sweep, this time against Northwestern State Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
• New Orleans enters the week on a three-game win streak and a win Wednesday would tie the season-high four consecutive wins earlier this year.
•
Gerrale Gates scored a season-high 18 points in Saturday's win over UIW. The freshman went 5-of-7 from the field in just 20 minutes of action.
• The Privateers rank third in the nation in forced turnovers (18.9) and fourth in steals per game (10.0).
- If the season ended today, the 10.0 steals/game would be a program record. Currently, the mark is 9.607, set in 1985-86.
• In Saturday's win, UNO made 31 free throws, the most since going 33-of-47 in last season's conference opening win over Abilene Christian (Dec. 28, 2017).
•
Ezekiel Charles posted back-to-back nine-rebound games last week.
• The starting lineup of
Damion Rosser,
Bryson Robinson,
Ezekiel Charles,
Gerrale Gates and
Scott Plaisance Jr. is 5-3 overall and 4-2 in league play.
• In last week's win over Wednesday's opponent Northwestern State, Charles and Robinson scored 17 points apiece and Rosser added 13.
• Last week, Plaisance Jr. collected five blocks and three steals in 42 minutes of action.
•
NEXT UP: Allstate Sugar Bowl Homecoming-Home on the Lakefront/Senior Day Saturday at 4:15 p.m. vs. Nicholls
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
Watch:
https://nsudemons.com/watch/?Live=1797
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
With three consecutive wins, the Privateers are keeping pace atop the Southland standings, just a game behind second place Abilene Christian. New Orleans enters the week 7-3 in league play and looks for the sweep of Northwestern State.
Ezekiel Charles leads the club in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, and
Bryson Robinson adds 11.1 points per game.
Damion Rosser continues to fill up the stat sheet (9.0 points on 51.0 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals) and
Troy Green provides a great punch off the bench, with 6.9 points and 2.3 assists.
Gerrale Gates is averaging 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in his collegiate debut season.
ABOUT THE DEMONS
The league's second leading rebounder Ishmael Lane paces a Northwestern State squad that begins the week 3-6 in conference action. Lane finished 9-of-9 for 22 points and added 13 rebounds in Saturday's win vs. Central Arkansas. On the year, Lane is averaging 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds.
THE SERIES
The Privateers are 8-5 all-time versus NSU with wins in the previous three meetings.
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.
THIRD PLACE
Seeding always plays a big part and with eight regular season games remaining, the Privateers sit in third place in the Southland at 7-3, behind Abilene Christian (7-2) and Sam Houston State (9-0). New Orleans played one additional game but will be off next Wednesday. The Bearkats enter Lakefront Arena Feb. 27.
SECOND LONGEST WIN STREAK IN CONFERENCE
With three consecutive wins, New Orleans has the second longest active win streak of any Southland school. The Privateers are behind Sam Houston State, who enters the week 9-0 in conference play and winners of 10 straight.
IM COMING HOME
Coach Slessinger was an assistant under Northwestern State head coach Mike McConathy for many years, but that's not the only homecoming of sorts Wednesday. Junior
Larry Robinson III is from nearby Bossier Parish and played at Southern-Shreveport before transferring to UNO.
UNDER SLESS
Since joining the Southland Conference, the Privateers are 51-49 in league play.
DAME
Damion Rosser is coming off career-highs in assists (eight) and steals (five). The sophomore continues to do a little of everything, averaging 9.0 points on 51.0 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 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 and added five rebounds, a block and a steal. The North Carolina native is averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and a steal per game.
ZEKE BACK TO BACK
Known for his shooting touch, senior guard
Ezekiel Charles continues to pace the squad in rebounding. With back-to-back nine-rebound performances, Charles upped his season average to 6.0 rebounds per game. He leads the club in scoring at 12.0.
SCOTTIE NO NO NO
Scott Plaisance Jr. is swatting away shots at will inside, with five blocks in two games. The senior also collected three steals in the wins over NSU and UIW last week.
SOUTHLAND ONLY STATS
Bryson Robinson leads the Privateers in scoring through 10 conference games, averaging 13.6 points on 42.6 percent shooting from three-point range.
Ezekiel Charles follows with 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, and the Brooklyn native is shooting 81.1 percent from the charity stripe.
Damion Rosser leads the club with 19 steals and nine blocks and is averaging 10.0 points on 53.5 percent shooting and 3.6 rebounds.
NEXT FOUR SAME TWO
The weird stretch of four games versus two opponents concludes Wednesday and the Privateers are looking to close it out 4-0 for the second consecutive season. UNO swept UIW and a win over the Demons would improve to league record to 8-3.
FREE THROW IMPROVEMENT
In Saturday's victory over UIW, the Privateers connected on 31-of-43 from the line, making 20+ free throws for the fifth time this season.
SWARMING DEFENSE
With a defense in the top five nationally in steals and turnovers, UNO has forced 15+ turnovers 16 times this season and 20+ six times. The Privateers have collected 10+ steals 11 times. UNO is 11-5 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 10-2.
PRO UPDATE
Below is a list of former Privateers playing professionally * (from EuroBasket)
- Erik Thomas (6'5''-SF, graduated '17, plays pro in Argentina) - averaging 10.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.3spg.
- Kyndall Dykes (6'4''-SG, graduated '09, plays in Romania) - averaging 18.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.5apg and 1.2spg in 17 games he played so far.
-
Michael Zeno (6'6''-G/F, graduated '18, currently in Norway) - averaging 18.7ppg, 7.3rpg and 3.3apg.
- Johnell Smith (5'11''-PG-80, graduated '04, plays pro in Sweden) - averaging 4.5ppg and 2.3rpg in four games.
-
Travin Thibodeaux (6'8''-F, graduated '18, plays in the NBA G League) - averaging 3.2ppg and 4.5rpg.
- Cory Dixon (6'7''-F, graduated '14, currently in Canada) - averaging 3.2ppg and 4.5rpg in 15 games.
- Bo McCalebb (5'10''-PG) plays for Zaragoza in Spanish Liga Endesa
- Nate Frye (6'0''-PG) plays for Atletico Welcome in Uruguayan LUB
- Kevin Brown (6'3''-G) plays for Halcones de Ciudad Obregon in Mexican CIBACOPA
- Jairo Mendoza (6'8''-F/C) plays for Piratas de Bogota in Colombian LPB
- Lovell Cook (6'7''-G/F) plays for Atletico Nacional in Panamanian LPB
- Kevin Hill (6'7''-F) plays for Ohrid AV in FYR Macedonian Prva Liga
- Tevin Broyles (6'4''-G) plays for Teuta in Albanian Superliga
- Issac Mack (6'1''-G) plays for Al Wehda in Saudi Arabian SBL
- Destin Damachoua (6'1''-G) 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
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
