UNO’s Johnson scores 36 points in thrilling 88-85 victory over Texas A&M Commerce

NEW ORLEANS – Season-highs in scoring from Jordan Johnson, Turk Vincent, and Mason Jones led New Orleans men’s basketball to the thrilling 88-85 victory over Texas A&M Commerce Monday at Lakefront Arena.

The Privateers improved to 6-9 and 1-1 in Southland Conference play with their first conference win of the season.

Johnson stuffed the stat sheet with 36 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals. The Privateers Player of the Game was 10-of-19 from the field and 14-of-16 from the foul line.

Behind Johnson was Jones, who put up career best 17 points, seven rebounds, one block, and one assists in his second consecutive start. Vincent accounted for his second double-double with 16 points and a team-high 12 rebounds with two assists and one block.

– Another crazy Johnson finish at the rim 😱
– A huge block from Jones ❌
– Another big throwdown from Vincent 🤯

The Privateers are ROLLING!#EarnedEveryDay x @PrivateersHoops pic.twitter.com/L1l6fREQFv

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) January 8, 2024

The Privateers took command early with a new starting lineup that featured Johnson, Jones, Vincent, Jah Short and Tyson Jackson. Vincent scored eight of the first 12 points for New Orleans including two massive dunks on assists from Johnson and Short. The entire starting five in addition to James Glisson III contributed offensively to help New Orleans gain its largest lead of the half at 11. Despite a 17-12 run by the Lions, the Privateers held them off to closeout the half 37-33.

New Orleans opened the second half on fire behind Johnson who scored 26 points after the break.

The Privateers held the Lions to just 5-of-13 shooting from the field before the 12:50 minute mark allowing the home team to build a 13-point lead. Commerce battled back and briefly took their first lead at 82-81 with just over a minute to go.

JORDAN. JOHNSON. COLD. BLOODED. ❄️

HE HAS 34 AND UNO LEADS WITH A MINUTE TO GO. #EARNEDEVERYDAY x @PRIVATEERSHOOPS pic.twitter.com/P8NtzRHMyU

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) January 8, 2024

The Lions were led by Tommie Lewis who scored a team-high 20 but his miss at the rim in the final seconds with New Orleans ahead by two was followed by Vincent’s final rebound and a Commerce foul.

Vincent hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1.2 seconds left and a desperation heave from the backcourt by VJ Reeves fell short as the Privateers held on for the victory to snap a three-game skid.

New Orleans matched a season-high with 29 made free-throws and shot 50.9% from the field on 28-of-55 shooting. The Privateers also out-rebounded the Lions, 43-32.

The UNO win came with a pair of starters – guard Khaleb Wilson-Rouse and forward D’ante Bell – slidelined due to injury.

UP NEXT
The Privateers will host Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday, Jan. 13 to close out a three-game homestand.

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