HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Coleton Benson scored 30 points, including a decisive 3-pointer with two seconds remaining, to lift the New Orleans Privateers to a 79-76 men’s basketball victory over the Southeastern Louisiana Lions on Monday night at University Center. The Privateers improved to 7-11 overall. The Lions fell to 5-12. New Orleans led 38-34 at halftime and held off a second-half push by Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions’ Isaiah Gaines scored 18 points. Churchill Abass added 11 points and five blocks for the Privateers. An announced crowd of 415 watched the Southland Conference game.

HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Coleton Benson poured in 30 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with two seconds remaining, to lift the New Orleans Privateers to a dramatic 79-76 victory over the Southeastern Louisiana Lions in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at a sparsely attended University Center. The game, which featured 12 lead changes and eight ties, was a tense affair decided in the final moments. With the score knotted at 76 after Southeastern Louisiana’s Isaiah Gaines split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left, New Orleans called a timeout to set up a final play. The inbound found its way to Benson, who created just enough space on the right wing and drained the deep three over a defender, sending the Privateer bench into a frenzy. Southeastern Louisiana, which had been projected as a significant favorite, had one final desperation heave, but it fell short as time expired. The Lions had mounted a fierce second-half comeback to set up the thrilling finish. After trailing 38-34 at halftime, Southeastern Louisiana used a 13-4 run early in the second period to seize a 47-42 lead. The teams then traded blows for the remainder of the game, with neither able to build a lead larger than five points. Benson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Austin, Texas, was the catalyst throughout for New Orleans, playing 38 minutes and scoring efficiently from all levels. His clutch performance continued a stellar individual stretch, as he has now scored at least 15 points in five consecutive games. He received crucial support from Churchill Abass, who recorded 11 points and five blocked shots in just 23 minutes, and MJ Thomas, who added 12 points. Southeastern Louisiana was led by Isaiah Gaines, who scored 18 points and was a force inside. Jeremy Elyzee filled the stat sheet with eight points, three assists and three blocks, while Jalen Forrest and Makhi Myles contributed 12 and eight points, respectively, off the bench. The game was a battle of attrition, with both teams struggling to find consistent offensive rhythm. New Orleans held a slim 30-28 advantage in points in the paint and a 14-9 edge in points off turnovers, which proved critical in a tight contest. Southeastern Louisiana won the fastbreak battle 12-11 but was ultimately undone by Benson’s late-game heroics. With the win, New Orleans improves to 7-11 overall and evens its early conference record. The Privateers snapped a two-game skid. Southeastern Louisiana falls to 5-12 and sees a two-game win streak come to an end. The game defied pregame expectations, as statistical models gave the Lions an 85.4% probability of victory, and they were installed as 1.5-point favorites. The combined score of 155 points sailed over the posted over/under line of 143.5. New Orleans returns home to host Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. Southeastern Louisiana hits the road for a matchup at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, also on Saturday.

HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Two Southland Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Monday when the New Orleans Privateers visit the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at the University Center. Both teams enter the Jan. 12 matchup with struggling overall records. New Orleans (6-10) snapped a two-game skid with an 83-73 home win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 5. Southeastern Louisiana (5-11) looks to rebound from a 73-61 road loss at McNeese State on Saturday. The Privateers have shown recent flashes, splitting their last four games. Guard MJ Thomas is a key catalyst, coming off a 12-point, two-assist performance in the win over Commerce. Thomas recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds in a narrow loss at Northwestern State on Jan. 3. The Lions, who beat Lamar 60-52 on Jan. 5 before the loss to McNeese, rely on guard Jeremy Elyzee. He averages 10.8 points per game and provides steady all-around play, including a 15-point, three-block effort in a close loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in December. This contest opens a critical stretch for both programs as they navigate the conference schedule. New Orleans holds a slight edge in the recent series, having won two of the last three meetings. Following this game, New Orleans will host Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 17. Southeastern Louisiana hits the road for a game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the same date. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST at the University Center in Hammond.