NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Travin Thibodeaux scored 20 points and New Orleans survived poor shooting for a 61-55 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.
Lamont Berzat added 15 points and Michael Zeno 11 for New Orleans (8-9, 5-1 Southland), which shot only 33 percent and made just 62 percent of its free throws (21 of 34). Berzat did make all three of his 3-point tries and the Privateers came through from the arc, making 6 of 11.
Zeno took a pass from Berzat and dunked to beat the shot clock for a 57-54 lead with 32 seconds left. After an Islanders free throw, Thibodeaux and Berzat each added two free throws.
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New Orleans, which beat the Islanders 68-65 in overtime in last season’s Southern Conference title game, led 22-16 at halftime after the Privateers shot just 25 percent and the Islanders 28 percent.
The Privateers gave up their lead for a time in the second half before a Thibodeaux 3-pointer put them up 43-41 with 6:41 to go.
Kareem South scored 15 points and Seah Rhea had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Islanders (4-11, 1-4), who shot 40 percent.
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