NEW ORLEANS – A full slate of events are on the docket Saturday as the University of New Orleans (13-9, 8-3 Southland) host Nicholls State University (10-12, 3-6 Southland) on Allstate Sugar Bowl Homecoming 2019-Home on the Lakefront Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.
PROMOTINOS
A homecoming tailgate & carnival outside of Lakefront Arena begins at 12 p.m. with the women tipping off at 2 p.m.
Prior to the men's game, four seniors –
Ezekiel Charles,
Scott Plaisance Jr.,
Tyren Harrison and
Jorge Rosa – will be recognized for their contributions to the men's basketball program. Also, a game day will be presented to tomorrow's sponsor Allstate Sugar Bowl. Sless' Star caps off promotions before the men take on Nicholls.
Former men's basketball student-athletes, coaches and more will be recognized at the under-eight media timeout. Anyone interested should contact
Rene Ronquillo or
Corey Schmidt.
TIP OFF
• It's Homecoming on the Lakefront at New Orleans welcomes back 20+ men's basketball alums on Allstate Sugar Bowl Homecoming-Home on the Lakefront Day.
• The 20+ former Privateers will be honored at the under-eight media in the first half.
• It is also senior day and four seniors -
Jorge Rosa,
Tyren Harrison,
Ezekiel Charles and
Scott Plaisance Jr. - will be honored for their contributions to the Privateers prior to tip-off.
• Charles is coming off a career night as the Brooklyn native poured in 31 in the overtime win over Northwestern State Wednesday. It was the first 30+ point game since
Bryson Robinson's 31-point performance last season at McNeese (Jan. 3).
•
Damion Rosser and Plaisance Jr. also reached double figures with 14 points apiece.
• In league play, Charles,
Bryson Robinson and Rosser are averaging 10.0+ points.
• UNO is currently in third place in the Southland standings, a game back in the loss column of Abilene Christian.
• The Privateers have played a league-high 11 conference games.
• The next win will be the 815th all-time for the men's basketball program and 360th home win (Lakefront Arena & HPC).
• The Privateers rank third in the nation in forced turnovers (19.09) and fourth in steals per game (10.1).
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
It will be a battle of the top two three-point defenses as the Privateers lead the league, limiting opponents to 31.0 percent shooting from long distance. Nicholls follows at 31.3.
New Orleans leads the league in steals (10.1) and forced turnovers and continue to swarm opponents, tallying double-digit steals for 11 consecutive games. Opponents have turned the ball over 15+ times in 17 games this season and in Southland action, New Orleans has forced 20 miscues on five occasions.
Ezekiel Charles is averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and
Bryson Robinson follows with 10.8 points per game.
UNO and the Colonels are tied for second with 4.2 blocks per game
ABOUT THE COLONELS
Nicholls is averaging 10.0 three-pointers/game. Gavin Peppers' 93.7 percent shooting from the charity stripe is good for third in the country.
The Colonels are in their first year under head coach Austin Claunch. NSU has not played since last Saturday, but have fallen by double figures in back-to-back games (Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana)
THE SERIES
The Privateers lead the series 18-11 but the Colonels swept the series last season. At home, New Orleans is 9-3 when hosting Nicholls.
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 seven regular season games remaining, the Privateers sit in third place in the Southland at 8-3, behind Abilene Christian (8-2) and Sam Houston State (10-0). 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 four 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 weekend 10-0 in conference play and winners of 11 straight.
SENIOR DAY
Four players will be honored prior to tip-off Saturday -
Scott Plaisance Jr.,
Ezekiel Charles,
Tyren Harrison and
Jorge Rosa.
Rosa is the longest tenured Privateer as a member of the 2016-17 Southland Conference regular season and tournament champions. Last season, the Orlando native scored 10 points at St. John's before redshirting due to injury. He returned as a graduate student as provides key minutes as a shooter off the bench.
Plaisance Jr. moved into the starting role after backing up
Travin Thibodeaux and
Makur Puou last season and leads the team in blocked shots. Scottie P joined the Privateers midseason two years ago and is averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks this year. He returned from an earlier injury and scored 14 points in Wednesday's win at Northwestern State.
Harrison and Charles are New York natives that transferred in as part of the JUCO class last season. While Charles led the conference and was fourth in single season program history in three-point shooting last season, Harrison was a key reserve off the bench and was inserted into the lineup late in the year, pulling down eight rebounds at Sam Houston State.
Charles will be honored following his 31 point performance Wednesday and the senior has four 20-point games this year. The team's leader in rebounding, Zeke is in the top 10 in UNO history in three-point shooting.
UNDER SLESS
Since joining the Southland Conference, the Privateers are 52-49 in league play.
DAME
Damion Rosser continues to do a little of everything, averaging 9.2 points on 50.3 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals. In Wednesday's win at Northwestern State, Rosser finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three 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 and added five rebounds, a block and a steal. The North Carolina native is averaging 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and a steal per game.
SCOTTIE NO NO NO
Scott Plaisance Jr. is swatting away shots at will inside, with six blocks in three games. The senior also collected three steals in the wins over NSU and UIW last week.
FREE THROW IMPROVEMENT
In Wednesday's victory at Northwestern State, the Privateers connected on 21-of-26 from the line, making 20+ free throws for the sixth time this season and second consecutive game
SWARMING DEFENSE
With a defense in the top five nationally in steals and turnovers, UNO has forced 15+ turnovers 17 times this season and 20+ seven times. The Privateers have collected 10+ steals 12 times. UNO is 12-5 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)
- 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.
