HCU ends Southland Conference tournament play with loss to New Orleans

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 8, 2026) The season came to an end for the Houston Christian University Huskies on Sunday night after a 73–60 loss to the New Orleans Privateers in the first round of the Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The game was played at Townsley Law Arena on the campus of McNeese State University.

HCU stayed close early and trailed by just one point at halftime, 34–33. However, a strong second-half run by New Orleans helped the Privateers pull away and end the Huskies’ season.

New Orleans jumped out to a quick 6–2 lead early in the game, but Houston Christian responded with a strong run. A jumper by Trent Johnson and back-to-back three-pointers from D'Aundre Samuels (No. 5, shown above) helped the Huskies take an 18–14 lead midway through the first half.

The teams traded baskets through the rest of the half. Samuels continued his hot shooting and knocked down his third three-pointer late in the period. Houston Christian stayed within striking distance, and a short jumper by Kylin Green just before halftime cut the deficit to 34–33 at the break.

Houston Christian briefly took the lead early in the second half after a basket by Ryan Bartley. But New Orleans quickly answered with a big scoring run. The Privateers used a 12–0 stretch over three minutes to build a 46–35 lead. That run gave New Orleans control of the game.

The Huskies tried to fight back in the second half. A three-pointer by Samuels and a basket inside from Demarco Bethea  helped trim the lead, but the Privateers kept their advantage in double digits for most of the final period.

Houston Christian made one last push late in the game. A layup by Bethea and a three-pointer by Johnson cut the deficit to 10 points with less than two minutes to play. However, that was as close as the Huskies would get.

Houston Christian shot 50 percent in the first half but cooled off in the second. The Huskies finished the game shooting 40 percent overall, while New Orleans shot 46 percent. The Privateers also controlled the boards, holding a 43–27 rebounding advantage and winning second-chance points 11–0.

Samuels led the Huskies with 20 points while hitting four three-pointers. Green added 13 points and four assists, and Bethea finished with 11 points. Bartley chipped in nine points, four rebounds, and three assists.

New Orleans was led by Jakevion Buckley and Coleton Benson, who each scored 14 points. MJ Thomas recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The loss ended the Huskies’ season with a 12–20 record in their second year under head coach Craig Doty. Meanwhile, New Orleans improved to 15–17 and advanced to the tournament quarterfinals.