NEW ORLEANS, La. – A career high performance from
Jordan Johnson and a season high double-double from
Tyson Jackson proves not enough to help New Orleans (2-5) overcome Louisiana (7-1) in a heartbroken loss on the Lakefront Saturday (78-77).
Johnson scored a career-high 22 points, six assists, and three steals, while Jackson added 12 points and 11 rebounds, his first double-double of the season. The Privateers clung to a one-point lead until challenged by Louisiana's Jalen Dalcourt's two made free throws with 2.5 seconds left in the game.
The Privateers continue to improve on scoring as they shot 54% from the field, 30% from the arc, and 68% from the charity stripe.
COACH'S CORNER: MARK SLESSINGER
This loss is frustrating, but there are things we have to work on and get better at. Last year, we were number one in the country in made free-throws, but we got doubled up on our home court tonight. This was two teams that both played extremely physical, and one shot 35 foul shots, and the other shot 19, so it's a little frustrating at the difference. This was a heartbreaker for our guys and our program to make the progress we have made and not be able to close it out, but it falls on me. I have to figure out a way to get us a win. This team has the ability to be very, very good offensively when we need to be. If we can stay with what we are doing and keep getting better fundamentally, we will be able to finish some of these easy looks that we get during games.
INSIDE THE BOX
Four Privateers scored in double-figures.
Simeon Kirkland put up 12 points and three boards while
K'mani Doughty chipped in ten points and three boards.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse also scored six points and three rebounds.
Daniel Sackey and
Omarion Henry both contributed six points apiece, a season best for Sackey in addition to his seven assists to lead the team.
Darrius Washington also scored two for the Privateers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana got out of the gate hot, but New Orleans wasn't too far behind and were able finish the first half trailing by one point after a huge three-pointer by
Jordan Johnson, 33-32. In the second half, the two teams played a back and forth first four-plus minutes, and an offensive rebound by Kirkland followed by a good layup gave the Privateers their first lead of the game, 42-40.
Following two lead changes and two ties, the Privateers regained control with another good three-pointer by Johnson, 77-74. Tied again at 77 with four seconds left in the game, the Privateers fouled and allowed two good free-throws by Dalcourt to solidify the loss to the Ragin' Cajuns 78-77.
UP NEXT
The Privateers will get a short break for final exams before the group heads west for a non-conference showdown with Portland on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Chiles Center in Portland, Oregon. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM CT and the game will be streamed nationally on the West Coast Conference Network.
