NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans men's basketball team (9-21, SLC 4-13) is gearing up to host McNeese at Lakefront Arena on Wednesday for their final regular-season matchup. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's basketball game. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ or tune in to 106.1 the Ticket with Jude Young on play-by-play commentary.
The Privateers hold the edge in the all-time series against McNeese, leading 19-14, with their last victory coming in the 2022 SLC tournament in Katy, Texas.
In their previous outing, the Privateers suffered a setback in their final road game of the regular season against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, falling 70-63. Despite the loss, New Orleans showcased strong three-point shooting, hitting 47% from beyond the arc, with five players sinking at least one three-pointer each. Additionally, the team boasted an impressive 87.5% free-throw shooting performance, going 14-of-16 from the charity stripe. Senior
Jordan Johnson led the charge with 16 points and three assists, extending his streak of consecutive double-figure games to 17. Junior
Carlos Hart contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, marking his sixth double-figure game of the season.
Johnson continues to be a standout performer for the Privateers, leading both the conference and his team in scoring (21.4), overall points (621), minutes per game (35:25), free throws (163), and field goals (192). His scoring prowess ranks him 11th nationally in scoring.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse is another key contributor, averaging 10.4 points per game.
The Privateers lead the conference in free throws made per game, averaging 16.7. As a team, they are scoring an average of 74.5 points per game while shooting 42% from the field and 30% from three-point range.
On the opposing side, the McNeese Cowboys currently sit atop the SLC standings and were recently crowned the regular-season champions with a 27-3 record, including a 16-1 mark in conference play. The Cowboys are riding an eight-game win streak, most recently defeating HCU at the Legacy Center with a score of 87-69. Shahada Wells led the charge for McNeese with 24 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals. McNeese leads the SLC in several statistical categories, including assist/turnover ratio, effective field goal percentage, and scoring margin, among others. Four Cowboys are averaging in double figures, with Wells leading the way at 17.3 points per game.
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For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Â Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Â Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Â Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
