LAKE CHARLES, La. – The #7 University of New Orleans men's basketball program is set to take on #6 HCU in the first round of the 2023 Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Basketball Championships presented by Louisiana Travel on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Legacy Center on the campus of McNeese State. Privateer fans can watch the ESPN+ live broadcast or tune into 106.1 FM with Jude Young and Tic Price calling the action.
The Privateers (10-19, 7-11 SLC) and the Huskies (10-21, 7-11 SLC) concluded their season series within the first three dates of the SLC schedule, playing on Dec. 30 and Jan. 7. The Privateers dropped a 101-96 overtime loss in Houston before getting the 82-59 victory at Lakefront Arena.
At HCU, J
ordan Johnson led the Privateers with 39 points, while Simeon Kirkland, Tyson Jackson, and Khaleb Wilson-Rouse also recorded double-figures. The game marked a season-high in points, field goals made, and three-point field goals made.
New Orleans shot 51% from the field at home against the Huskies who they held to 33.3 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three.
Omarion Henry neared a double-double with 18 points and eight boards while Johnson,
Jamond Vincent, and
K'mani Doughty all finished in double-figures. The Huskies were led by Andrew King who finished with 15 points and nine boards in the loss.
The two teams tied for sixth in the league standings with the Huskies earning the No. 6 seed in the tournament by virtue of having a win against league champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi while New Orleans lost both meetings with the Islanders.
Johnson, who has established himself as one of the top shooters in the country, was selected to the SLC All-Conference second team, announced on Friday. The junior finished the regular season first in the conference and second in the nation in three-point percentage and seventh in the nation in three-pointers made per game. Johnson leads the team with 17.7 pp.
Tyson Jackson and
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse are both averaging 11 points per game.
HCU's Bonke Maring was selected to the SLC All-Defensive team after a season in which he finished second in the conference in blocked shots. In HCU's last matchup, Brycen Long set a new record of 93 three-pointers in a single season.
Last time out, Johnson poured in 26 points and Wilson-Rouse put up 17 points to conclude the regular season at McNeese.
The Privateers are 8-6 all-time in the Southland Tournament. Southeastern got the best of the Privateers 74-65 in the semifinals last season. Sunday will be the first time New Orleans and HCU have met at the SLC Tournament.
The winner of UNO-HCU will face Southeastern Louisiana on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersHoops on Twitter, @PrivateersHoops on Instagram, like /PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
