THIBODAUX, La. – The University of New Orleans (17-11, 12-5 Southland) attempted 71 field-goals and outrebounded Nicholls State University (12-17, 5-11 Southland) by 12 in Saturday's 80-70 victory over the Colonels at Stopher Gymnasium.
UNO picked up 18 offensive rebounds and finished with 43 on the game, while four players reached double figures, led by Scott Plaisance Jr.'s 19. Jorge Rosa was 4-of-8 from deep for 14 points and added two steals, Bryson Robinson finished with 13 points, two steals and four rebounds and Troy Green was all over with 13 points, nine rebounds (five offensive), seven assists and two steals. When four or more players reach double figures, UNO is now 10-0 and the Privateers are 13-2 when scoring 70-plus points.
New Orleans made the most of its second chance opportunities with 15 points off the 18 rebounds. Offensively, UNO turned the ball over just 10 times.
FIRST HALF
The Privateers closed out the first half on a 7-0 run take a 35-28 lead into the locker room. Plaisance Jr. led all players with 10 points, Green finished the half with five assists and four rebounds and Robinson added nine points. UNO picked up eight offensive rebounds that led to 10 points.
The half ended with an exclamation point as Rosa drained his second triple of the stanza following a Colonels miss on an open layup.
Nicholls shot 38.5 percent in the first half.
The Colonels made the first basket of the game at the 17:40 marker, but UNO quickly followed with a three by Rosa and back-to-back buckets for Plaisance Jr., including the first of two dunks.
SECOND HALF
Seconds into the game, Rosa found nothing but net on his third trey of the afternoon. The long-range jumper extended the Privateer lead to 10 and the clubs traded points heading into the first media of the second stanza. Green crashed the boards and found the open man.
The Colonels counted on their three-point shooting to erase the deficit and tie the game at 64-all on James Jefferson's layup with 6:03 remaining.
With 5:19 to go, Jefferson went 1-of-2 from the line to give Nicholls its first lead since the opening basket.
It wouldn't last as freshman Jahmel Myers showcased his post moves with an and-one to give UNO a 67-65 lead with 4:24 to go. Plaisance Jr. became a distributor, finding a cutting Robinson for two and then, drained two from the line to extend the UNO lead to six with three minutes remaining.
It was an 11-0 run with 1:53 remaining, sealed by Green's layup and then assist to Rosser. The highlight came at the 2:40 marker when coach Slessinger showcased his NFL Combine ready 40-yard dash time to get the basketball.
In the first half, Rosser chased the ball under the stairs to the mezzanine arena at Stopher Gymnasium.
Free throws were the story the remainder of the game as the Privateers substituted for offense/defense. Green connected on both with 1:05 remaining to make it 78-69 UNO.
New Orleans held on to split the series with the Colonels.
NEXT UP
The Privateers conclude the regular season in Hammond versus Southeastern Louisiana University Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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