ULL Settles Down, Rallies to Victory

In a Wednesday night in-state rivalry at Lakefront Arena, the Privateers started fast, but UL Lafayette finished strong and won a 77-73 overtime decision.

Lamont Berzat drives
in the second half

The New Orleans defense rattled the Ragin' Cajuns early, creating a frenetic pace and turning over the visitors 14 times in the first half.  Through the first 16 minutes, UNO led 29-15, with 16 of those points coming off turnovers.  But ULL was able to gather themselves, scored the last 11 points of the half, and make it largely a halfcourt game the rest of the way, gradually wearing down the Privateers until they finally took the lead late in the contest.

The Cajuns only turned the ball over five times over the final 29 minutes of action, and New Orleans' offense struggled in halfcourt sets.  Gerrale Gates, though, tied it at 59 with a jumper with 13 seconds left to send the game to overtime.  Gates scored seven points in overtime to keep the Privateers in it, but the Cajuns were ultimately too much.

Gates, a freshman, led the way for UNO with a career-high 17, and Damion Rosser added 13.  New Orleans' best shooters, Bryson Robinson and Ezekiel Charles, combined to shoot 5-for-24 and 2-for-10 from deep.  As a team, the Bucs shot an anemic 35%.

The balanced Cajuns attack featured three players with 12 points and another two with 10.

After a week off, UNO will face another former Sun Belt rival when they take on South Alabama at Lakefront Arena next Wednesday.

UNO Overcomes Slow Start, Wins Blowout

Rosser drops in a layup
in the second half

After a sloppy beginning that saw unknown Governor's State holding an early 27-26 lead on the Privateers, the host team hit a run towards the end of the first half and never looked back, winning a 97-53 rout.

Damion Rosser had his first big game of the 2018-19 campaign with 18 points, though steady senior Ezekiel Charles led the way with 20.  Fellow senior Scott Plaisance had several early baskets to help UNO keep its footing early and finished with 14 points.

The Privateer defense was able to turn over GSU 27 times, 18 of which were steals, leading to a parade of fast break buckets.

New Orleans will stay home to take on in-state rival UL Lafayette on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

UAB Holds Off Privateers

Gates led UNO with
9 rebounds

A spirited Privateer rally in Birmingham fell short on Wednesday night, as UAB defeated New Orleans 75-68.

A feisty UNO squad jumped out to a solid start, leading 20-15 early.  They were holding steady at 28-28 before the homestanding Blazers scored the final nine points of the half to lead 37-28 at the break.  It didn't go much better for New Orleans out of the locker room, as UAB continued a layup fest to extend the lead to 18 before the Bucs began a comeback.

Led by Ezekiel Charles with 20 points, they cut the lead to as little as 60-57.  At 67-63, Troy Green had a one-and-one to potentially cut it to two, but missed.  The hosts were then able to reestablish tenuous control and hold UNO off, scoring their narrow victory.

Charles shot 8-for-12 from the field and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.  Joining him in double figures for the Privateers (2-2) was Scott Plaisance with 12, including his first three of the year.  Gerrale Gates had 11 to go along with a team-high 9 rebounds.

UNO has a 10-day layoff before beginning a three-game homestand on Saturday, November 24 against a team that apparently exists called Governor's State.

UNO Knocks off Pensacola Christian

In a game that was a slog until a late hot streak, New Orleans (2-1) worked their way past Pensacola Christian College by an 87-59 score at Lakefront Arena on Monday night.

Bryson Robinson led an almost impossibly balanced UNO attack with 13 points as the Privateers survived sluggishness out of the gate that saw PCC lead by seven early.  The hosts were able to manage a 10-point halftime lead and were unable to truly break free until the final 10 minutes.  Ezekiel Charles added 12 points, and Charles' fellow senior Tyren Harrison added 11.  Two other Privateers had 9.

UNO has a quick turnaround and a much tougher test on Wednesday night as they travel to Birmingham to face UAB.

Northwestern Wears Down Privateers

Freshman F Gerrale Gates

What was a feisty UNO effort for much of the night turned into a rout by the end at Northwestern, as the Wildcats dominated the Privateers (1-1) down the stretch in an 82-52 win in their opener.

After quickly falling behind 8-0, New Orleans played the rest of the half even and had Northwestern flustered.  The Bucs trailed by just four in the second half and still trailed just 46-39 before the Big Ten hosts hit a rhythm, turned UNO over a few times, and went on an extended run to finish the game.

Freshman Gerrale Gates impressed again, reaching double digits with 10 to lead a mostly anemic Privateer offensive attack which saw Bryson Robinson and Ezekiel Charles combining for just nine points.  New Orleans shot 42% from the field and a miserable 10-for-22 from the foul line.

New Orleans returns home for its next contest, a Monday night tilt against Pensacola Christian at Lakefront Arena.

Privateers Cruise on Opening Night

Zeke Charles throws down an
alley-oop early in the second half

On opening night of the 2018-19 basketball season, the Privateers (1-0) jumped on Spring Hill early and never looked back, scoring an easy 95-66 victory at Lakefront Arena.

New Orleans had a balanced effort, getting solid contributions from returnees and newcomers alike.  Sharp shooting senior Ezekiel Charles and freshman Amari Haynes each led the scoring with 17 apiece.  Charles drained three from long distance, and Bryson Robinson added four threes as well.  6'6" 235-pound freshman Gerrale Gates added 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

UNO will turn around quickly and travel to Northwestern for a Thursday night contest on the Big Ten Network.