NEW ORLEANS — Entering its 13th season under Coach Mark Slessinger, the University of New Orleans men's basketball team opens the 2023-24 season Monday, Nov. 6, by hosting Millsaps College for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Lakefront Arena.
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase the "We Win; You Win" ticket promotion. At just $40, fans who take part will receive two reserved tickets to the first two home New Orleans men's basketball contests of the season (Monday, November 6 vs. Millsaps and Saturday, November 11 vs. SUNO at Lakefront Arena). With a victory in these two games, ticket holders will receive two FREE tickets to the next home game against Belhaven Tuesday, December 5. As long as the Privateers continue to win at home, fans will receive two free tickets to the next home game! All ticket packages can be purchased by visiting unoprivateers.com/tickets.
PREVIEW
The Privateers, selected third in the 2023-24 Southland Preseason Poll, return all five starters from a 2022-23 campaign that ended in the SLC Semifinals with an overall record of 12-20, including a mark of 7-11 in the SLC.
Senior guard Jordan Johnson is the leading three-point percentage scorer entering the 2023-24 season in the nation at 48.2% and the leading three-point shooter in the SLC at 3.44 per game. The Memphis native was named to the 2023-24 Preseason All-SLC First Team after being second-team All-SLC last season when he was second in the conference is scoring with 18 points per game.
Senior forward Tyson Jackson earned a spot on the 2023-24 Preseason All-SLC Second Team. Jackson led the Privateers in rebounds with 154, an average of 4.4 per contest, and averaged double-figure scoring with 11.1 ppg.
A perennial starter alongside Jackson, senior guard Khaleb Wilson-Rouse returns after averaging 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season. The Chicago native had a game high of 21 points against LSU last year, and he led the team in total steals on the season with 46.
Junior Jamond "Turk" Vincent and sophomore Omarion Henry were both late starters for the Privateers and look to carry momentum built into the 2023-24 campaign. Vincent led the team in double-doubles with five and averaged 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in the final eight games last season.
Henry averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and put up a season high 20 points versus Lamar. Henry also led the team in blocks with 22.
The Privateers boasts five newcomers, highlighted by Carlos Hart, who was named an NJCAA Division I All-American last year and averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for South Georgia State College.
Graduate transfer forward, James Glisson III. averaged 7.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for Mercer. Rice transfer Mason Jones played 24 games throughout his freshman season at Rice and scored a season-high eight points in 12 minutes against Final Four participant Florida Atlantic.
Two-time Scotlandville high school state champion Dorian Booker averaged double-figures in both his junior and senior year. Freshman Jah Short averaged 20 points per game in both his junior and senior years of high school and led Farmville Central HS to a state title.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Privateers will host Millsaps for the first time since their season opener in 2013 when they downed the Majors 81-45, and former Privateer assistant coach Cory Dixon led the victory with 18 points. Millsaps, led by fourth-year Coach Michael Prather, is coming off a 5-20 record on the 2022-23 season. The Majors return leading scorer in Dakota Gaska who averaged 9.6 points per game.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersHoops on Twitter, @PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like /PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
