STWF Sports | LAKE CHARLES, La. | March 8, 2026 — A dominant second-half surge powered the New Orleans Privateers men’s basketball past the Houston Christian Huskies on Sunday evening, as New Orleans claimed a 73–60 victory in the opening round of the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament at Townsley Law Arena.
The win improved New Orleans to 15-17 overall and kept the Privateers’ postseason hopes alive as they advanced to the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament. After trailing by narrow margins throughout the opening half, New Orleans seized control shortly after the break, unleashing a decisive run that the Huskies could not overcome.
With the Privateers clinging to a one-point lead early in the second half, senior guard Jakevion Buckley ignited the surge with a three-pointer to open the scoring after halftime. Moments later, Coleton Benson followed with a jumper from the free-throw line that triggered an extended offensive push.
Over the next eight minutes, New Orleans outscored Houston Christian 20–4, transforming a tightly contested game into a comfortable double-digit lead. Buckley capped the run by sinking two free throws with 11:50 remaining, pushing the Privateers’ advantage to 15 points.
The turning point, however, was fueled as much by defense as offense. During that critical stretch, the Privateers’ defensive pressure forced the Huskies into eight consecutive missed shots while also creating five turnovers.
The momentum fully shifted when Buckley secured a defensive rebound and launched a fast break that ended with Churchill Abass finishing a coast-to-coast drive with a powerful two-handed dunk. The emphatic play extended the lead to double digits and energized the New Orleans bench with just under eight minutes remaining.
From that point forward, Houston Christian never managed to cut the deficit to fewer than 11 points.
While Buckley and Benson led the scoring effort, sophomore MJ Thomas delivered one of the most complete performances of the night. Thomas recorded his 12th career double-double — and sixth of the season — finishing with 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds while also contributing two blocked shots.
Benson and Buckley each scored 14 points in the victory, continuing the strong play that earned both guards second-team All-Southland Conference honors earlier in the week. Benson connected on five of his 10 field goal attempts, including two three-pointers, while Buckley added six assists to go along with his scoring.
The performance moved Buckley’s season assist total to 176, placing him just two shy of the program’s single-season record.
Forward Kedrick Osby also provided valuable contributions off the bench. After struggling in a previous appearance at Townsley Law Arena earlier in the season, Osby rebounded with eight points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting performance while also collecting four rebounds.
The Privateers’ dominance on the glass proved another major factor in the victory. New Orleans outrebounded Houston Christian 43–27 overall and held the Huskies to just three offensive rebounds. The Privateers also generated an 11–0 advantage in second-chance points.
Houston Christian relied heavily on D’Aundre Samuels, who carried the Huskies’ offense in the opening half. Samuels scored 15 of his game-high 20 points before halftime and finished with four rebounds. Demarco Bethea added 11 points, while Ryan Bartley contributed 13 for Houston Christian.
With the win, New Orleans advances to face the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders in the tournament quarterfinals Monday evening at 5 p.m. The winner of that matchup will move on to face the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the semifinal round.
Sunday’s victory showcased the Privateers’ resilience and defensive intensity — two qualities they will need again as the tournament bracket tightens and the stakes continue to rise.
