Trojans Spoil Privateer Homecoming

NEW ORLEANS - The Troy Trojans (2-0) spoiled the Homecoming party on the Lakefront when they defeated the New Orleans Privateers (0-2) 78-61 on Saturday afternoon at Lakefront Arena.

Kerwin Prince made the first bucket of the game but that was about as bright as it would get for New Orleans in a first half with eight made baskets on 28 attempts, including an 0-7 shot chart from beyond the arc. 

After Luke Davis split a pair of free throws to make the score 10-7 Troy, the Trojans used a 22-10 run over the next 7:55 to take a 32-16 lead. During the run the Trojans shot 9-of-15 with three triples, while UNO was 3-of-12 and 0-for-3 from deep. James White led UNO in the first half with six points on 2-of-5 shooting with a pair of free throws and three boards.

The Privateers never relented. Down 52-37 with 11:47, UNO stepped up its intensity as big plays from White, Jah Short and Dae Dae Hunter spearheaded a 12-1 UNO run cutting the deficit to nine with 10:30 to play in the game. 

A right corner three from Thomas Dowd with 5:58 to play forced Coach Stacy Hollowell to call a timeout as Troy stretched their lead 66-47 with 5:58 to play. Troy's lead swelled to 20-plus again in the closing stages as they wrapped up the victory.

New Orleans was led in scoring by White, who had a career high 23 to go along with his 8 rebounds. It was the first 20 point game of his collegiate career (UNO, UAB, Ole Miss). Short finished with 14 points and four steals - one short of matching his career-high.

JR Jacobs finished with 12 assists, the most by a Privateer since Rarlensee Nelson had 14 dimes against Bethune-Cookman in 2012. The Privateers outscored the Trojans by six in the second second half after losing the first half by 23.

Four Trojans scored in double-figures - Jackson Fields with 15, Dowd with 14, Conerway with 13, and Rigsby with 10. Fields added 10 boards for his first double-double this year. 

Next up for the Privateers is a trip to the campus of Robert Morris for a three team MTE starting on Thursday. New Orleans first matchup will be against Lindenwood on Thursday, followed by a game against Stonehill on Friday before wrapping up with Robert Morris on Sunday. All three games will start at 3 p.m. CST.

Information on video coverage will be available early next week, with all three games airing on 106.1 The Ticket.

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