NEW ORLEANS – Four Privateers scored in double figures, but the University of New Orleans men's basketball team (2-8, 0-1 Southland) couldn't hold off the hot shooting Texas Longhorns (10-2, 0-0 SEC) and were defeated 98-62 on Thursday night in Austin.
Trailing 16-0 with 13:30 to play in the first half, Jah Short and Dae Dae Hunter each scored five points in a 12-2 run that cut the Texas lead to six over the next four minutes, forcing a Longhorns timeout.
UNO played Texas even the rest of the first half after the initial Longhorn run that started the game but trailed 44-28 at the break after a buzzer-beating three from Short.
The Privateers continued to fight early in the second half. An MJ Thomas layup cut the Texas lead down to 10 with 17:16 to go in the game. Another basket from Thomas cut the lead to 13 just under two minutes later before a 17-6 run over the next six minutes put the game away.
Hunter finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting for UNO, including four made 3-pointers. Short added 15 points with four rebounds and two assists. James White added 14 points, 12 of those coming in the second half, and pulled down eight rebounds. Thomas finished one rebound short of his first career double-double with 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds.
Longhorns guard Jordan Pope set a career-high 42 points, the most by an individual against UNO in over 25 years. Pope was 8-of-12 from deep – tied for the most 3-pointers by an individual against the Privateers with Syndey Griner, who hit eight triples for Southwestern Louisiana against UNO in 1990. He finished the game 15-of-21 from the field.
In addition to Pope's efforts, Arthur Kaluma posted a double-double for the Longhorns with 15 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.
Next up for the Privateers is a trip to Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon for a battle with the LSU Tigers. Fans can watch the game on SEC Network+ or ESPN+ or listen locally on The Ticket 106.1 FM. Updates will also be provided on @PrivateersHoops on X throughout the contest. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
