New Orleans defeats UT Rio Grande 69-85

New Orleans Edges UT Rio Grande in Conference Showdown, 85-69

The New Orleans Privateers outlasted the host UT Rio Grande Vaqueros, 85-69, in a tightly contested conference matchup at UTRGV Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away. At halftime, the visiting Privateers led by two points, setting the stage for a thrilling second half. New Orleans continued to dominate the paint, outscoring UT Rio Grande 38-22 in the process.

Jakevion Buckley paced the Privateers with a team-high 32 points, including three 3-pointers, while MJ Thomas chipped in with 10 rebounds and eight points off the bench. The Vaqueros were led by Koree Cotton's 24 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

The game was marked by efficient offense for both teams. New Orleans shot an even 47% from the field, including a impressive 90% clip from the free throw line (18/20). Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande struggled to find its range, converting just 41% of their field goal attempts (24/59).

The Vaqueros' inability to contain Buckley proved costly, as he outscored his teammates by 11 points. Cotton's all-around performance was also crucial for the home team, but ultimately fell short in a game that saw both teams play at an elite level.

New Orleans takes a significant step forward in conference standings with the win, while UT Rio Grande looks to regroup and refocus ahead of their next matchup.

Statistical Highlights

* New Orleans: 29/62 FG (47.0%), 20/37 2-PT FG (54.1%), 9/25 3-PT FG (36.0%), 18/20 FT Rate

* UT Rio Grande: 24/59 FG (41.0%), 13/31 2-PT FG (41.9%), 11/28 3-PT FG (39.0%), 10/17 FT Rate