New Orleans defeats SE Louisiana 76-79

New Orleans Edges SE Louisiana in Thrilling Conference Showdown

In a back-and-forth affair, the visiting New Orleans squad outlasted their hosts at Pride Roofing University Center, capturing an 79-76 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

The home team's aggressive start set the tone for a tense battle, as they took an early lead and never relinquished it. SE Louisiana (HOME) jumped out to a 34-22 halftime advantage, but New Orleans (AWAY) responded with a surge of their own, leading by one after three quarters.

Coleton Benson led all scorers with 30 points, converting four of nine three-point attempts at a 44.4% clip. MJ Thomas chipped in with 12 points and 12 rebounds, as the visitors' balanced attack proved to be too much for the home team to handle.

Meanwhile, Isaiah Gaines paced SE Louisiana (HOME) with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome his team's subpar shooting. The Red Devils struggled from beyond the arc, converting just six of 22 three-point attempts at a meager 27.0% rate.

The game's final margin was a mere three points, leaving both teams feeling like they'd left everything on the court. New Orleans' improved defensive performance – particularly in the paint – ultimately proved decisive, as they limited SE Louisiana to just 28 points inside the arc.

Advanced statistics revealed that New Orleans (AWAY) dominated in several key categories, including effective field goal percentage (51.1%) and true shooting percentage (61.6%). Conversely, SE Louisiana (HOME) struggled with turnovers, committing 16 errors compared to the visitors' 16.

The win marks a significant conference victory for New Orleans, as they continue to navigate the challenging landscape of Division I basketball.