THIBODAUX, La.- Five Privateers scored in double-figures for New Orleans men's basketball in a 78-75 loss to Nicholls Monday night at Stopher Gym. New Orleans is now 7-10 on the season and 2-2 in Southland Conference play.
Four of New Orleans' five starters scored in double figures, and
Tyson Jackson led the way with a season-best 18 points with seven rebounds.
Mason Jones had 15 points and five rebounds; his points coming on aggressive drives to the basket, put-backs and a couple of threes in the first half.
Jordan Johnson scored 14 points and three rebounds despite the defensive schemes put together by the Colonels to limit the nation's third-leading scorer.
Jah Short accounted for 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds in his third consecutive start for New Orleans as a true freshman.
James Glisson III chipped in season-high 12 points off the bench on four-of-five shooting from the field and three-of-four shooting from deep.
New Orleans led by as much as 17 in the second half, but Nicholls battled back within a possession as the teams neared the two-minute mark. With 2:10 remaining, Glisson III wasted no time as he answered a Nicholls dunk with his third three-pointer to regain a two-point lead for New Orleans at 75-73.
The Colonels fired back with a three-pointer, and a pass down the court to
Tyson Jackson led to a foul on a layup attempt. After two Privatee misses at the stripe, Nicholls got the defensive board and another made basket to up their lead to three at 78-75.
New Orleans looked for an opportunity to tie the game but missed both three-point attempts at which point they used their final timeout. With 20 seconds to go, Glisson III, who was 3-of-3 from the arc at the time, did not convert his final shot attempt of the night. The Colonels got the defensive rebound and called a timeout, but turned it over on an illegal in-bound play,. The Privateers made a final attempt at tying it up with two three-point attempts but missed the mark before the clock expired.
New Orleans shot 46% from field and just 46% from the foul line. The Privateers out-rebounded the Colonels 16-13 on offense and forced 15 turnovers.
