SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers committed only two turnovers in the second half and held the UIW Cardinals to 36 percent from the field in a 78-64 win on Monday night at the McDermott Center.
Four Privateers scored in double figures, and the team shot 51.9 percent from the field to help put the game away. The win also moved New Orleans to 6-0 on Monday night games in 2026.
The Privateers got out to a quick start behind three early steals from
Jakevion Buckley and going 9-of-15 from the field in the first nine minutes. That helped the Privateers to an early 23-12 lead.
New Orleans held the lead by as many as 14 points in the first half, but the Cardinals began to rally with a 10-0 run of their own in a stretch of nearly three minutes. That cut the Privateer lead to 29-25, but New Orleans was able to extend again through the free throw line.
14 of the last 16 points in the first half came from the charity stripe for the Privateers and they carried a 39-28 lead into the locker room.
The second half saw an even more efficient offense take care of the ball throughout the final 20 minutes. The Cardinals did work an 11-point halftime deficit down to just five with 11:44 remaining, but that was as close as they got. Buckley and
TJ Cope combined for 21 points in the second half for New Orleans.
Davion Bailey scored 13 points and was 3-of-9 from the field for UIW. Tahj Staveskie finished with 10 points and was 3-of-8. That duo came in averaging over 35 points per game.
INSIDE THE BOX
Coleton Benson started out hot and finished with a team-high 18 points. Buckley added 16 points, four assists and four steals. Cope finished with 12 points and
Churchill Abass added 10.
Panagiotis Pagonis and
Enzo Boudouma tied for the team lead in rebounds with six each.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will head to Lamar on Saturday, Feb. 21.
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