HOUSTON, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team got 17 points from
MJ Thomas as they were defeated 99-57 by the Houston Cougars on Saturday afternoon at the Fertitta Center.
The Privateers defense held Houston to just 3-of-12 from the field to begin the game as they trailed 8-4 after the first five minutes. The Cougars then hit their first spurt of the game by knocking down five consecutive shots to help grow the lead to 18.
New Orleans spent the first half trying to get through the second best scoring defense in the nation but they connected on four consecutive field goal attempts near the end of the first half. The Privateers went to the halftime locker room trailing 44-23.
Houston began the second half on an 8-0 run as Joseph Tugler got to the free throw line four times in that span. Chris Cenac Jr. also had eight points in the first eight minutes of the second half as the Cougars forced 12 first half turnovers by the Privateers.
Thomas went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line and also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in the loss for the Privateers.
The Cougars had four players reach double figures: Cenac, Kingston Flemings, Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller all had 15 points. Houston finished the game with a 54.2 field goal percentage. Milos Uzan had seven points and 10 assists.
INSIDE THE BOX
Mathok Majok finished with six points and three rebounds (all offensive). The Privateers were 19-of-23 from the free throw line on the day.
Jakevion Buckley had seven rebounds and three assists.
Enzo Boudouma had eight points and went 3-of-6 from the field.
Vieux Sanneh made his season debut and had two points, a rebound and a block in eight minutes.
NEXT UP
The Privateers have a break before getting back on the court as they face UTRGV on Dec. 29.
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