NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team will head to a pair of in-state rivals as they take on McNeese and Nicholls on Saturday and Monday respectively. The Saturday contest against McNeese has been moved up to 2:30 p.m. because of weather concerns. The Monday game against Nicholls is at 6:30 p.m.
The Privateers (7-12, 5-5) had their highest point total in a regular season game when they defeated Lamar 89-76.
Churchill Abass and
MJ Thomas both scored 20 points and five Privateers notched double figures in the win.
Monday was the first time the Privateers had that many players in double figures since Nov. 14, 2024 when five Privateers notched at least 10 points against Lindenwood. New Orleans is 3-1 in Southland games this season when at least four players score 10 or more points.
Abass is top three in the Southland in blocked shots and has added a scoring element of late. Abass notched his highest point total as a Privateer against Lamar when he scored 20 points on 9-of-11 from the field.
Abass averaged 5.6 points per game through the first 14 contests this season. In his last five outings he has averaged 12.0 points per game. In that same stretch he has connected on 75 percent of his field goal attempts (24-of-32).
Thomas is about to crest 400 rebounds for his career. The sophomore is at 398 total rebounds in 50 games, which leads all active players in the Southland. Willie Williams of Northwestern State is second with 344 career boards.
The Privateers currently have 78 total blocks on the season and average 4.1 per game, third most in the Southland. With 12 games left, the Privateers are on pace to finish with 127 blocks.
That total would rank as the eighth best in program history and would be the second highest block total in a season since 2000. The 2018-19 team finished with 134 blocks.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
McNeese (15-4, 8-2) is undefeated at home in nine games this season. The Cowboys are the highest scoring offense in the league at 83.5 points per game and sport the third best scoring defense in the league at 68.1 points per game allowed. Larry Johnson is tied for fifth in the conference at 16.5 points per game.
Nicholls (8-11, 7-3) has lost three straight since their win against New Orleans at Lakefront Arena on Jan. 10. Jaylin Searles and Zee Hamoda combined for 44 points in the Colonels' 90-77 win over the Privateers two weeks ago. Nicholls has made the most three-pointers of anyone in the Southland at 182 entering the weekend.
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