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GAME NOTES: UNO | SOUTHLAND
NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans men's basketball team (2-5, 0-0 Southland) will make the short trip to Thibodaux, La. for an early December conference meeting with the Nicholls Colonels (5-4, 1-0 Southland).
The Privateers are coming off a loss at No. 17 Baylor in a game where
Dae Dae Hunter scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down a career-high seven rebounds. In two games as a starter Hunter is averaging 16.5 points per game, shooting .455 from the floor, including .556 from beyond the arc, and pulling down 5.0 rebounds per game. In five games off the bench, he was averaging 5.0 points per game, shooting .292 from the field, .250 from deep and pulling down just one rebound per game.
James White continues to lead the Privateers and Southland in scoring at 19 points per game, rebounding at 7.9 points per game, double-figure scoring games at four, and minutes per game at 35.7. The UAB transfer also ranks in the top 10 in the league in both field goal and free throw percentage.
Defensively the Privateers continue take the ball away from their opponents at an impressive rate. KenPom has New Orleans' steal% at 11.8 – the 68
th best in the entire NCAA. The Privateers are averaging 8.6 steals per game, and led by
Jah Short who is second in the league with 2.3 swipes per contest.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
The Colonels come into Saturday's contest after a nail biting win at home over Southeastern to open conference play on Thursday night. Bryon Ireland led Nicholls with 15 points, while Jamal West Jr. added a double-double – 13 points, 10 rebounds to hold off the Lions at Stopher Gymnasium.
Nicholls is ranked No. 2 in the Southland, and No. 42 in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense allowing teams to shoot just .386 from the field. Opponents only make 26.6 percent of their three-point shots – good for No. 17 in the NCAA.They are also No. 1 in the Southland and 93
rd in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game at 22.2, and No. 2 in the Southland and No. 58 in the NCAA in total rebounds per game at 38.8.
Offensively only Ireland (12.1 points per game) and West Jr. (10.4 points per game) are scoring in double figures. West is pulling down 7.1 rebounds per game, and has 16 blocks this season.
The Colonels were picked third in the Southland's preseason basketball poll with three first place votes. Jamal West Jr. was a preseason first-team selection, and Robert Brown III was a preseason second-team selection. At home the Colonels have wins over Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi College and Southeastern this season, with losses to South Alabama and Towson.
COVERAGE INFORMATION
Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ or listen to the Privateer Sports Network broadcast for free at
UNOPrivateers.com/watch. Updates will also be provided on @PrivateersHoops on
X (formerly Twitter) throughout the contest. Live stats will be available
here. Tipoff at Stopher Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m.
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