NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — New Orleans pulled away late for an 83-73 men’s basketball victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday night at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. The Privateers improved to 6-10 overall, while the Lions fell to 6-10. Ronnie Harrison led all scorers with 29 points for Texas A&M-Commerce, which trailed 38-32 at halftime. Damian Garcia added 18 points for the Lions. New Orleans countered with a balanced effort, led by Coleton Benson’s 17 points. Jakevion Buckley facilitated the offense with nine assists for the Privateers. New Orleans maintained a narrow lead throughout the second half before securing the win at the free-throw line in the final minute. Both teams are now 6-10 this season. An announced crowd of 389 attended the Southland Conference game.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — In a Southland Conference clash between teams desperate to halt losing skids, the New Orleans Privateers used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions for an 83-73 victory on Monday night at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. Both teams entered the contest with identical 5-10 records, but it was the Privateers who found the necessary composure down the stretch, improving to 6-10 overall. The Lions, despite a heroic scoring effort from Ronnie Harrison, dropped their third consecutive game to fall to 6-10. The first half was a tightly contested affair characterized by runs from both sides. New Orleans jumped out to an early 11-5 lead behind quick scores from Irish Coquia and MJ Thomas. Texas A&M-Commerce responded with a flurry of three-pointers, including two from Vinny Sigona and one from Harrison, to keep pace. The Lions took their first lead at 23-20 on a Tay Mosher three-pointer with just under seven minutes remaining in the half, but the Privateers closed the period strong. An 8-2 run, capped by a Churchill Abass dunk and free throws from Coleton Benson, gave New Orleans a 38-32 advantage at the intermission. The second half began with the Privateers extending their lead. A dunk by Abass and a driving layup from MJ Thomas pushed the margin to 44-36. The Lions, as they did all night, had an answer. A 9-2 run, fueled by five points from Damian Garcia and a Noah Pagotto layup, cut the deficit to 46-45 with 15 minutes to play, signaling another potential back-and-forth battle. However, the most important stretch of the game unfolded over the next six minutes, as New Orleans constructed the separation that would ultimately decide the outcome. With the score 52-50 in favor of the Privateers, they unleashed a devastating 13-3 run that broke the game open. The surge was a collaborative effort: Enzo Boudouma drilled a three-pointer, Jakevion Buckley hit a step-back three, and Coleton Benson connected on a deep jumper, all assisted by Buckley. When Benson’s three-pointer found the net with 9:29 remaining, the Privateers held a commanding 63-53 lead. Texas A&M-Commerce, reliant on the scoring of Harrison and Garcia, could not mount a sustained counterattack against the suddenly locked-in Privateer defense. Every time the Lions threatened, New Orleans had a response. After a Harrison three-pointer brought the Lions within 69-64 with just over four minutes left, the Privateers scored on their next three possessions. A Churchill Abass dunk, a Panagiotis Pagonis pull-up jumper, and two clutch free throws from Coleton Benson stretched the lead back to 75-66 with 2:29 on the clock, effectively sealing the victory. Harrison was magnificent in defeat for the Lions, scoring a game-high 29 points on 9-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers, and adding seven rebounds. Garcia provided strong support with 18 points, while Sigona chipped in 12. Gianni Hunt directed the offense with seven assists. The Privateers showcased a balanced and efficient offensive attack. Benson led the way with 17 points, all in the second half, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute to ice the game. Thomas posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Buckley was the engine, finishing just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine assists, orchestrating the critical second-half run. Abass (10 points) and Boudouma (11 points) provided crucial interior production. New Orleans won despite being outscored 41-45 in the second half, thanks to their strong first-half finish and the game-breaking run early in the final period. The Privateers also won the battle at the charity stripe, making 22 free throws compared to 13 for the Lions. The game, witnessed by an announced crowd of 389, was a matchup of teams projected to be closely matched, with New Orleans holding a slim 56.2% probability to win according to statistical models. The Privateers covered the pregame spread of -7, and the total score of 156 landed under the over/under line of 153.5. Both teams continue Southland Conference play on Saturday. New Orleans will host Nicholls State, while Texas A&M-Commerce returns home to face Texas-Rio Grande Valley. The Privateers and Lions are scheduled for a rematch in Commerce on Monday, Feb. 2.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Two Southland Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Monday when the New Orleans Privateers host the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. Both teams enter the Jan. 5 matchup looking to halt slides, with the Lions (6-9) having lost three straight and the Privateers (5-10) dropping their last two. Each squad is coming off a double-digit road loss this past Saturday, with Texas A&M-Commerce falling 80-58 at Nicholls State and New Orleans losing 74-68 at Northwestern State. The game features a key battle in the frontcourt. Texas A&M-Commerce will rely on forward Ronnie Harrison, who has been a consistent offensive threat. Over his last six games, Harrison is averaging 15 points, including a 23-point performance in a loss at Texas A&M and 19 points against Lamar. New Orleans counters with forward MJ Thomas, who is coming off a dominant 16-point, 12-rebound double-double in the loss to Northwestern State. Thomas’s activity on the glass will be critical for a Privateers team that has struggled against a demanding non-conference schedule featuring losses to Houston, Memphis and Texas Tech. The Lions have found wins hard to come by since conference play began, with their only Southland victory a 70-69 nail-biter at Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 15. Their offense has stalled at times, including a 48-point outing in a loss to Stephen F. Austin. New Orleans has shown flashes, with tight overtime losses at Mississippi State and a one-point win over Incarnate Word, but has struggled with consistency. Protecting home court is vital for the Privateers as they navigate the early conference slate. Monday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Commerce, Texas, on Feb. 2. For now, both see this as an opportunity to steady their seasons and climb the Southland standings.