COVERAGE: ESPN+ | LIVE STATS | JOIN THE PRESS DRIVE 6TH MAN CLUB
NEW ORLEANS – It's homecoming week at the University of New Orleans as the Privateers host next door neighbor SUNO on Saturday afternoon at Lakefront Arena.
New Orleans got off to the perfect start on Monday night with a 78-74 upset victory over TCU.
Coleton Benson scored 22 in his Privateer debut – the first 20 point game by a Privateer in a season opener since Derek St. Hilaire scored 21 on Ole Miss in 2021.
Jakevion Buckley finished with 13 points and nine assists.
MJ Thomas was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor to finish with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Churchill Abass and
Panagiotis Pagonis each had seven rebounds as well in their Privateer debuts.
New Orleans held TCU to 38.8 percent shooting (26-of-67) and 11.1 percent from 3-point range (3-of-27) while outrebounding the Horned Frogs 39-28. The Privateers led for more than 35 minutes, with TCU's only lead coming at 2-0 with 18:14 left in the first half.
Monday's victory was the Privateers' first over a Power Four school since defeating Washington State 70-54 in 2016 and their first over a Big 12 opponent since beating Colorado 67-65 in 2007. It was just TCU's sixth loss in 75 nonconference games under head coach Jamie Dixon and its first since 2022. The victory earned UNO a No. 20 ranking in the Field of 68's first Mid Major Top-25 poll of the season.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
SUNO returned to collegiate basketball for the 2022-2023 season after the school suspended athletics six years ago. James Matthews has led the Knights as both Athletic Director and Head Coach since 2021 and was a key figure in the relaunch of SUNO athletics. In just over three seasons since their return the Knights have gone 20-39, including a 1-4 mark this season.
Jamal Gibson spent time with the Privateers over the summer before eventually resettling at SUNO. He's a two-time NAIA All-American who has averaged 17.4 and 11.7 rebounds per game in seven career games against Div. I opponents.
This season Gibson is averaging 18.0 points per game and 16.0 rebounds per game. Former Privateer Dorian Booker is also on the Knights roster. He has started all five games this season and is average 10 points and 5.8 rebounds a game on 68% shooting.
COVERAGE INFORMATION
Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Fans can watch the action live on
ESPN+ in the United States, fans outside of the country can watch on
Southland International.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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@UNOPrivateers on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
