Nwevo's Career-High Not Enough as Cardinals Fall at New Orleans, 76-65

[Guest abovetherim]

NEW ORLEANS, La. -Lawrence Nwevo set a new career scoring high and Kenny Dawkins scored a team-high 18 points, but the Cardinals valiant comeback attempt fell short in Wednesday's 76-65 loss at New Orleans in non-conference men's basketball action at the HP Center.

Lamar, who has lost four straight, dropped to 1-4 on the season. UNO improved to 4-0 on the season. The Cardinals stay on the road for a 1 p.m. game Saturday at Northern Illinois.

Holding a 38-28 halftime lead, UNO opened the second half with a 16-6 run to extend its lead to 20 points, 54-34, on a three-pointer by Jacob Manning at 14:42.

T.J. Worley's jumper at 9:07 gave the Privateers a 19-point lead, 64-45. A pair of Tristan Worrell free throws started Lamar's comeback bid with a 10-0 run. Nwevo followed with a layup, Justin Nabors hit two free throws, Dawkins made a layup and Nwevo capped the run with another lay-in to pull the Cardinals within nine, 64-55, with 5:41 remaining.

A layup up by Ashton Hall and a free throw by Lamar Sanders trimmed UNO's lead to seven, 67-60, with 3:20 left in the game. Jaroslav Tyrna answered with a three-pointer for the Privateers to push the lead back to 10 points and Bo McCalebb followed with a layup at 2:21 to make the score 72-60 and dash the Cardinals hopes.

Dawkins, who was plagued by three fouls in the first half, finished the game with 18 points on 7 of 11 shots from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and 1 of 2 from the free throw line. Nwevo was 6 of 11 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw line in scoring a career-high 14 points.

Nabors recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds, which also set a new season-high. Sanders added nine points and five assists.   

Lamar shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from 3-point range and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the free throw line. The Cardinals committed a season-low 12 turnovers while forcing 14 Privateer miscues.

McCalebb scored a game-high 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range, and 5 of 6 from the free throw line to lead UNO. He also had seven rebounds and a team-high six assists. Tyrna added 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting from the field and James Parlow chipped in 10. Manning grabbed nine rebounds.

UNO shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the field, 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range and 80 percent (16-of-20) from the free throw line. The Privateers held a slim 42 to 41 rebound advantage.

[KFDM COOP]

:'(