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KATY, Texas – HBU fought back from a 23-point first half deficit to pull within seven but ultimately lost, 81-65, to New Orleans on Friday afternoon at the Merrell Center on day two of the Southland Conference Tip-Off Event.
 
New Orleans (5-8) opened the game with a 10-1 advantage in the first three minutes. Two minutes later, a three-pointer from Brycen Long made it 12-6. From there, UNO built its lead as the half went on and the Huskies (4-8) trailed by as many as 23, 18-41, with 3:13 left in the half. Over the final three minutes of the first period, Darius Lee and Long combined to carry the Huskies on a 13-4 run to close it out and trailed 43-29 at the break.
 
The HBU deficit remained in double-figures until Khristion Courseault came up with a steal and made a fast break layup to bring the Huskies within nine, 46-55, with 10:21 to play. The Huskies cut that UNO lead as low as seven, 50-57, on a Sam Hofman three but the Privateers scored the next six and kept the game out of reach for HBU.
 
Lee returned after missing the last two games to lead HBU with 18 points and eight rebounds, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor, and also recording three assists and a pair of steals. Senior Zion Tordoff added 12 points and six boards for the Huskies with Long also totaling 12 points. Courseault finished with 11 while Hofman scored nine.
 
HBU shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field and just 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from three but connected on 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the foul line. Turnovers were close with HBU committing 17 to UNO's 16 while the Privateers won the battle on the boards, 37-35. New Orleans shot 50.9 percent (28-of-55) for the game.
 
HBU closes out the three day Southland Conference Tip-Off Event on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 11:00 a.m. against the loser of the Northwestern State vs. UIW game on Friday at the Merrell Center.