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.
FOLLLOW US
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersHoops on Twitter, @PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like /PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
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For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. 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. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
