LAKE CHARLES — UNO took down No. 3-seeded Southeastern in a 82-78 Monday night thriller to advance to the Southland Conference tournament quarterfinals.
Jordan Johnson had a game-high 32 points, including a season-high of 11 made free throws. Jamond Vincent had his second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Tyson Jackson was also in double figures for his second straight game with 11 points and five rebounds.
Two layups and a jumper by Johnson and Vincent put nine on the board for New Orleans to open the game. It was followed by a 11-0 SLU run.
At the 10:25 mark, Khaleb Wilson-Rouse got the steal and found Jackson for the dunk that sparked a 7-0 run for the Privateers. After Johnson tied the game at 20 on a three-pointer, both teams rallied before reaching what would be the final tie in the half at 35. The Privateers went on an 11-6 run to close out the half 36-31.
The Lions quickly cut the deficit to a tied game at 39 at the 17-minute mark in the second. Both teams battled back and forth until Johnson made a critical three-pointer at 6:24 to give New Orleans its first double-digit lead at 64-52 with the largest lead extending to 13 points.
After two layups and a triple from Roger McFarlane, the Lions were back within striking range. With six seconds on the clock, Boogie Anderson cashed in on a missed jumper from McFarlane to put the Lions within two points. The Privateers inbounded the ball underneath the Lions basket, and a foul by Nick Caldwell gave Marquez Cooper a chance to put two more points on the board to close out the game 82-78.
New Orleans shot 45% from the field and 77% from the foul line. They outrebounded the Lions 42-33 and had 15 assists.
The Privateers are now 10-6 all-time in the Southland Tournament under coach Mark Slessinger. They will face the No. 2-seeded Northwestern State in the tournament at 8 p.m. Tuesday.