BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — MJ Thomas scored 19 points to lead New Orleans to a 77-71 victory over Lamar in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Montagne Center. The Privateers improved to 14-15 overall, while the Cardinals fell to 12-16. New Orleans built a 32-29 halftime lead and maintained control in the second half despite Lamar’s late push. The Privateers were more efficient offensively, shooting 45.5% from the floor and 77.8% from the free-throw line. Lamar shot just 36.4% overall and 58.3% on free throws. Thomas led all scorers. Coleton Benson added 14 points for New Orleans. Errol White and Andrew Holifield each scored 14 for Lamar. The announced attendance was 2,103.

BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive surge out of halftime, the New Orleans Privateers overcame a sluggish start and a hostile road environment to defeat the Lamar Cardinals 77-71 in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Montagne Center. A crowd of 2,103 saw the Privateers improve to 14-15 overall, while Lamar fell to 12-16. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for New Orleans, which had defeated Lamar 89-76 at home on Jan. 19. The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the opening minutes of the second half. After trailing 29-32 at halftime in a low-energy opening period, New Orleans emerged from the locker room with immediate purpose. The Privateers unleashed a 14-2 run over the first four and a half minutes of the second half, completely flipping the game’s momentum. The run was fueled by defensive intensity and efficient offense. MJ Thomas, who finished with a game-high 19 points, scored six points during the burst, including a layup off a steal. Tavaj Cope added four points, and Churchill Abass finished an alley-oop from Jakevion Buckley, capping the run and forcing a Lamar timeout with New Orleans leading 43-34. The Cardinals never recovered the lead, as the Privateers’ cushion proved insurmountable despite several late pushes by the home team. The game began in stark contrast to its finish. Lamar, energized by its home crowd, started quickly. Eian Lowe and Andrew Holifield connected on early three-pointers, and the Cardinals built a 10-7 lead by the first media timeout. New Orleans struggled to find an offensive rhythm, committing turnovers and missing open looks. Coleton Benson provided a spark off the bench with a pair of first-half three-pointers to keep the Privateers within reach, but Lamar maintained control for much of the period, taking a three-point lead into the break. New Orleans’ second-half transformation was rooted in improved offensive execution and key defensive plays. The Privateers shot 45.5% from the field after halftime, compared to Lamar’s 34.4%. While both teams were nearly even in turnovers, New Orleans converted Lamar’s 13 giveaways into 14 points and outscored the Cardinals 20-15 in fastbreak opportunities, many stemming from that pivotal early-second-half stretch. Thomas led all scorers with his 19 points in 27 minutes, adding two blocks. Benson contributed 14 points for New Orleans, while Cope added 11 points and Buckley orchestrated the offense with nine assists. For Lamar, Errol White came off the bench to lead the Cardinals with 14 points. Holifield and Jayden Gambrell each scored 12, with Gambrell hitting three three-pointers in the final minutes during a desperate comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. Lowe finished with 13 points and four assists. Statistically, the game was won at the free-throw line and through interior defense. New Orleans made 21 of 27 free throws, a 77.8% clip, while Lamar managed only 14 of 24. The Privateers also protected the rim effectively, blocking three shots and holding Lamar to just 22 points in the paint. Despite being outrebounded 19-14 on the offensive glass, New Orleans’ superior efficiency, evidenced by an offensive rating of 113.5 points per 100 possessions compared to Lamar’s 99.4, carried the day. The win gives New Orleans momentum as it heads into its final stretch of conference play. The Privateers will travel to face Stephen F. Austin on Monday. Lamar, meanwhile, looks to regroup when it hosts Nicholls State, also on Monday.

BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — Two Southland Conference teams looking to build late-season momentum will meet Saturday when the Lamar Cardinals host the New Orleans Privateers at the Montagne Center. Both teams enter the Feb. 21 matchup with nearly identical records. New Orleans (13-15 overall) holds a one-game edge over Lamar (12-15) in the win column. The Privateers won the season’s first meeting, 89-76, in New Orleans on Jan. 19. New Orleans arrives having snapped a two-game skid with a 78-64 road victory at Incarnate Word on Monday. Guard Jakevion Buckley led the way with 16 points and four assists. Buckley, a key player to watch for the Privateers, has been a consistent offensive catalyst, averaging 16.1 points over his last eight games. He scored 25 points in a loss to Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 7 and 22 in an overtime win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 9. Lamar seeks to end a four-game losing streak after falling 70-65 at Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday. Guard Cody Pennebaker, a player to watch for the Cardinals, scored 12 points in that contest. Pennebaker has shown flashes, posting 12 points in a win over Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 2 and eight points with five assists in a close loss to Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 24. The game will feature two of the conference’s middle-tier teams jockeying for position ahead of the Southland tournament. New Orleans has shown a potent offense at times, but has struggled defensively in recent losses. Lamar will look to leverage home-court advantage to reverse its recent fortunes and avenge its January loss. Following this game, New Orleans travels to face Stephen F. Austin on Monday. Lamar remains at home to host Nicholls State on Monday.