NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers (9-14, 8-7) prevailed in a tough regular season finale as they scored an 81-76 overtime victory over the Southeastern Lions (7-17, 5-10) on Saturday evening at the Lakefront Arena.
TOURNEY TIME
The Privateers are locked into the five seed for the Southland Tournament and will have a first round bye. They will face the winner of McNeese and Southeastern in the second round on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
CLUTCH SHOTS
Fittingly on Senior Night, the Privateers who were honored in pregame all played key roles down the stretch in overtime.
Facing a one-point deficit with 1:35 left in overtime,
Damion Rosser nailed a jumper to pull the Privateers ahead. With a one-point lead and under 40 seconds remaining, New Orleans hit four big free throws between
Derek St. Hilaire and
Troy Green.
Lamont Berzat then forced a held ball with the possession arrow pointing to the Privateers with eight seconds remaining. Green was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining in the overtime period.
HOW WE GOT HERE
In front of a crowd of 940, the Privateers led for most of the contest but Southeastern kept hanging within range. The largest New Orleans lead was at nine early in the second half (50-41). As a team, the Privateers shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the second half.
Southeastern hit six triples in the second half including the one that tied the game late in regulation from Gus Okafor.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Ahren Freeman secured 10 rebounds to lead the squad on the glass as the Privateers outrebounded Southeastern 43-30. Green's 24 points led the team and St. Hilaire followed with 19.
Rodney Carson Jr. (11) and Rosser (10) also scored in double figures.
Rosser also led the team in assists with five of the 15 dimes on the game. Berzat recorded a game high five steals.
Southeastern was led by Keon Clergeot's 25 points. Nick Caldwell finished with 11 points an Okafor scored 10. JonDarius Warren led the Lions in boards with seven.
