UNO drops overtime contest to Texas Southern in CIT

NEW ORLEANS – Bryson Robinson led all scorers with 20 points in the University of New Orleans’ 95-89 overtime setback to Texas Southern University (22-13) Wednesday evening at Lakefront Arena.

Damion Rosser finished with three blocked shots, inclyding two LeBron James-esque rejections after chasing down the opposition. Jahmel Myers posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was a CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) first round matchup.

Rosser added eight assists and six rebounds to his three blocks, Robinson went 7-of-17 from the field and recorded four steals and Myers was 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Troy Green and Jorge Rosa finished with 13 points apiece.

UNO (19-14) flipped the script in the second half, outscoring the Tigers by five to force overtime.

FIRST HALF
The Tigers led by as much as 11 in the half and by nine with 3:28 remaining, but back-to-back three-pointers by Rosa and a rebound/foul by El Jefe gave UNO possession with 2:13 left in the opening stanza.

After a Texas Southern run extended the Tigers’ lead, Green found Rosa for his third triple of the half right before the buzzer. At the half, UNO trailed 43-38 despite Rosa leading all scorers with 11 points.

His shooting from deep offset the Tigers’ 51.5 percent clip in the first with eight players recording a field goal.

Green came off the bench with three assists and Myers posted four points, five rebounds and two assists.

SECOND HALF
The Tigers extended their lead to double figures early in the half, but the resilient Privateers struck quick with nine answered points in less than two minutes to cut it to two with 12:58 remaining. The run was capped by Myers’ putback.

Moments later, Rosser chased down what appeared to be an easy layup to swat away the fast break attempt.

On the latter side of a media timeout (12:50), TSU ended the UNO run with a corner three, but UNO limited the damage and Myers’ layup made it 64-59 with 9:37 left to play.

Scott Plaisance Jr.’s and-one with 7:36 remaining spearheaded another mini-run with the defense forcing three TSU turnovers.

After a pair of misses as the line by Texas Southern, Robinson made his third trey of the game to tie the game with 5:26 left to play. On the ensuing possession, Robinson forced a Tiger turnover and Myers drained two free throws to give UNO its first lead of the game since the opening basket.

Giving the crowd two high-flying blocks, Rosser showcased his offensive ability, beating the shot clock to give UNO a 77-76 lead with 3:08 left.

Texas Southern (22-13) quickly scored and added a free throw for a two-point edge down the stretch.

A Robinson steal sent the junior to the line with 1:13 remaining, but the Tigers corralled the rebound and went to the line for two.

Combs made one-of-two from the line, while Green drained both with a minute remaining to cut it to a one-point TSU lead.

Haynes’ layup off the Rosser dish with 27.2 seconds remaining regained the lead for UNO.

Devocio Butler made one of two from the line with 16 seconds left and Green’s mid-range jumper rimmed out to send us to overtime.

OVERTIME
The Tigers took control early with eight of the OT’s first 10 points. Robinson’s free throws with 2:38 left to play gave the junior his fifth 20-point game as a Privateer and third this season.

Texas Southern led 93-87 before Robinson’s steal led to a Green layup with 25.7 ticks. The Tigers attempted 42 free throws in the game to defeat the Privateers 95-89.

Justin Hopkins finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, going 10-of-14 from the line. SWAC Player of the Year Jeremy Combs added 19 points and four steals, Devocio Butler (15 points), Jalyn Patterson (14 points) and Tyrik Armstrong (10 points) rounded out the double-digit scorers.

Texas Southern will visit UT Rio Grande Valley in the CIT second round Saturday.

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