NEW ORLEANS – Despite a late 12-0 run in the final five minutes of Monday night's game, the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team could not mount the comeback at Lakefront Arena and fell 83-73 to the New Orleans Privateers.
 
The Privateers scored the first five points of the game and never trailed, nor was the game tied at any point beyond the opening seconds. Being held to just five points through the first 10 minutes and trailing 17-5, the Lions answered with a 9-3 run to bring the game within six.
 
Six of the nine field goals made in the first half for the Lions came from deep. In the second half, East Texas A&M brought the game within one possession for the first time since the early minutes of the game on a 9-2 run at the 15:12 mark.
 
The next six points were scored by the Privateers over the next 1:30 to increase their lead back to nine and then jumped out to a game-best 65-50 lead with 7:51 to go. The Privateers were up 69-54 at the 5:53 mark of the second, tying their largest lead of the night.
 
For the next three minutes and 44 seconds, the Lions did not allow a point and cut the deficit down to 69-66. The next eight points were scored by the Privateers, cooling off the Lion rally.
 
Ronnie Harrison (Forney) totaled another double-double as he scored season-best 29 points, while adding 12 rebounds. Damian Garcia (Houston – Dobie) added 18 points for the Lions and Vinny Sigona (Prestonwood Christian Academy) scored 12 off the bench.
 
Gianni Hunt (Lakewood, Calif.) stuffed the stats sheet with five points, six rebounds, and team-high seven assists. For the Privateers, Coleton Benson scored 17, going 10 for 11 at the line.
 
The Lions have now lost five in a row and drop to 6-10 on the season and 1-5 in Southland play, while the Privateers improve to 5-10 overall and 3-3 against Southland opponents.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions return home to Commerce to host A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday at 5 p.m. and then A&M-Corpus Christi next Monday at 6:30 p.m.