Demons fall by 18 at first-place UNO

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State couldn’t sustain anything positive Wednesday night at Southland Conference basketball leader New Orleans, and the Privateers took advantage.

UNO led throughout, taking control with a late first-half run in an 82-64 victory over the fifth-youngest team in college basketball. The Privateers, the defending Southland champion, used a 17-6 run late in the first half to push away from a three-point margin and open a 32-18 advantage.

The spread was 36-24 at halftime and got no closer afterward, despite NSU getting 20 points and 11 rebounds from junior center Ishmael Lane, and a game-high 13 rebounds from freshman center Larry Owens.

The Demons (3-18 overall, 0-10 in the Southland) started the second half of the conference race with 43 percent shooting aim overall and a 42-36 rebounding advantage, but missed an inordinate number of shots at the rim, and suffered 22 turnovers while making only half of their 24 free throws.

UNO (12-10, 9-2) benefitted from 46 trips to the free throw line, but made a meager 27 (59 percent) while sinking 48 percent of its shots from the floor.

“We were in a position to strike but we never could string together any defensive stops, and we lost the ball far too much and missed so many shots at the rim, just didn’t finish,” said Demons’ coach Mike McConathy. “UNO did a nice job of being aggressive and assertive and taking control.

“They have a really good team and they’re building on the success of a year ago. They’re backing up their championship season with success led by their veteran players,” he said.

Senior forward Travin Thibodeaux led four Privateers in double digits, scoring a game-best 21 points.

NSU picked up 10 points from freshman point guard C.J. Jones, one of 10 Demons who scored. Lane notched his seventh double-double performance of the season, 13th in his career, while scoring 20 or more for the fourth time in the last seven outings.

“Ishmael was very productive as we’re getting accustomed to as he’s playing at a high level. It was a shame that he fouled out with seven minutes left,” said McConathy, “or no telling what his numbers would have been.”

After falling for the 13th consecutive game, McConathy said his eight newcomers and three veterans are giving sufficient effort but are plagued by continuing struggles with turnovers and free throws.

“It’s frustrating and we keep trying to bring these young guys along with some positivity. This group is working hard and giving us the effort,” he said, “but we’re not helping our cause with so many careless mistakes with the ball.”

The Demons come home for three of their next four contests, beginning Saturday afternoon at 3:30 in the second half of a doubleheader against McNeese at Prather Coliseum.