Lamar sports information

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans jumped out to a 13-2 lead and the Cardinals were never able to fully recover falling, 72-62, to the Privateers on Wednesday evening at the Lakefront Arena.

The loss drops Lamar University (10-6, 2-1 Southland) from the ranks of the undefeated in the league standings.

The Cardinals shot better than 58 percent from the field in the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 6-of-22 (.273) effort to start the game. LU finished the night 24-of-53 (.453) from the field including seven three-pointers.

New Orleans used strong starts in both halves to finish the night 27-of-62 (.435) from the field. The Privateers also converted all 13 free throw attempts. UNO also edged the Cardinals on the glass, 35-32, including 17 offensive rebounds.

“When you go on the road in this conference you have to match your opponent’s intensity,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “We didn’t do that tonight. Give them credit, they made some tough shots with a defender in their face when they needed them. New Orleans did what they needed to tonight defending their home floor. That is what you have to do if you want to win a conference championship.”

The Cardinals finished the game with two players in double figures led by 15 from reigning Southland Player of the Week Josh Nzeakor. Senior Zjori Bosha added 14, including 13 in the second half.

UNO had four players in double digits led by 14 from Makur Puou. Ten of his 14 came in the opening 20 minutes of action.

The Cardinals converted just one of their first five attempts as UNO raced out to a 13-2 advantage. The Privateers hit five of their first six attempts to build the lead. In addition to the early struggles shooting the ball, Big Red was also hurt by 12 turnovers (UNO turned the ball over just six times in the opening 20 minutes).

LU won the battle of the boards in the first half, 20-17, including eight offensive rebounds, but the Cardinals couldn’t convert those opportunities into offense finishing the half with just four second chance points.

The Cardinals never got closer than eight points in the opening 20 minutes as UNO pushed its lead to as many as 15. New Orleans took a 29-16 lead into the locker room.

It was a similar start to the second half for the Privateers as they hit their first three attempts to build an 18-point lead with 17:25 remaining. The Cardinals called a timeout and regrouped. Following the timeout LU got a three-pointer from senior James Harrison, followed by layups from senior Colton Weisbrod and Nzeakor. The Cards trimmed the deficit to single digits following another basket from Weisbrod, 41-32, with 14:46remaining.

The 12-3 run was sparked by the Cardinals who hit five of their first seven attempts in the second half, and 12-of-19. Despite New Orleans getting the lead back to double figures, the Cardinals kept up the pressure cutting the lead four points following a four-point play from Bosha (60-56) with 4:35 remaining in the contest.

The Cardinals were unable to get any closer as the Privateers followed the four-point play with a basket followed by a UNO steal which led to a transition basket at the other end of the floor. UNO didn’t allow the Cards the opportunity to get back in the game converting all of their free throws down the stretch.

The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday when they return home to host Central Arkansas. The game against the Bears will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center and can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. It can also be seen live on ESPN3.