STWF Sports| NEW ORLEANS| (Nov. 13, 2025) — A classic Crescent City rivalry takes center stage Friday night as the University of New Orleans Privateers (1-1, 0-0 Southland) travel uptown to face the unbeaten Tulane Green Wave (3-0, 0-0 American) at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. The Privateers will try to cool off their city rival’s fast start while securing a statement win against one of the American Athletic Conference’s top contenders.
This matchup will mark the 50th all-time meeting between the two programs, with New Orleans holding a narrow 25–24 edge in the series after last season’s thrilling overtime victory. Head coach Stacy Hollowell is undefeated against Tulane in his tenure as UNO’s Division I head coach and will look to extend that streak in one of the most anticipated early-season clashes in Louisiana basketball.
Privateers Rising After Breakthrough Start
UNO entered the season with modest expectations but quickly became one of college basketball’s early feel-good stories. The Privateers stunned TCU on opening night, capturing national attention and earning their first-ever spots in the Field of 68 Mid-Major Poll (No. 20) and CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Madness Poll (No. 23).
Although UNO dropped its first regular-season game Monday night at LSU, the momentum surrounding Hollowell’s group remains strong. The Privateers have shown balance, poise, and the ability to score efficiently from multiple positions.
Guard Coleton Benson has led the offensive charge, averaging 16.0 points per game while shooting efficiently from beyond the arc (six made threes) and maintaining a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
All-Southland standout Jakevion Buckley has been the engine of UNO’s attack, contributing 12.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while orchestrating the offense with confidence.
Inside, Churchill Abass continues to anchor the frontcourt, averaging 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, while MJ Thomas has provided a spark off the bench with 7.5 points and 6.0 boards per game in limited minutes. Thomas’s shooting efficiency (.875 FG%) has made him a key contributor early in the year.
UNO has maintained continuity through the early schedule, sticking with the same starting five — Abass, Benson, Enzo Boudouma, Buckley, and Kedrick Osby — since the preseason. That consistency has helped the Privateers build early chemistry and confidence ahead of their biggest non-conference test to date.
Tulane’s Talent and Tempo
On the other side, Tulane enters Friday’s contest with a perfect 3-0 record, highlighted by convincing wins over Samford, Texas State, and Louisiana. Picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, the Green Wave have lived up to expectations behind star guard Rowan Brumbaugh, the preseason AAC Player of the Year.
The Washington, D.C. native has been electric, averaging 21.3 points per game while shooting 60% from three-point range (9-of-15). Brumbaugh also leads the team in free throws made (27) and minutes played (36.0), reflecting both his scoring prowess and his reliability in clutch moments.
His ability to draw fouls has been exceptional — Brumbaugh’s 29 free-throw attempts rank fifth nationally, and he’s converting at an elite 93% clip, helping Tulane to the No. 1 free-throw percentage in the country (90%).
Tulane’s offense has been efficient from long range as well, ranking 33rd nationally in three-point percentage (41.3%), though they rank near the bottom of Division I in attempts per game (18.3). The Green Wave prefer a methodical, half-court attack built around spacing, ball movement, and capitalizing on trips to the foul line.
What’s at Stake
Beyond city bragging rights, Friday’s matchup carries weight for both programs. For UNO, it’s an opportunity to prove that their upset win over TCU was no fluke and that they belong among the Southland Conference’s elite. A second straight win over Tulane would bolster their national mid-major profile and solidify Hollowell’s case for early-season coach-of-the-year consideration.
For Tulane, the challenge lies in maintaining focus and rhythm against an underdog opponent hungry for recognition. With Brumbaugh leading a veteran core, the Green Wave will aim to protect home court and keep their perfect record intact before entering AAC play.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, and the atmosphere at Devlin Fieldhouse promises to be electric. Two New Orleans teams with contrasting styles — one built on pace and grit, the other on efficiency and polish — will renew a storied rivalry that’s always bigger than basketball in the Crescent City.
If recent history is any indication, expect another battle that goes down to the final possession.
