New Orleans Privateers Defeat Incarnate Word Cardinals 78-64 Behind Balanced Attack

The New Orleans Privateers, led by Coleton Benson's 18 points, dominated the Incarnate Word Cardinals 78-64 at the McDermott Center, a 14-point margin that far exceeded the 0.9-point edge CHD Scout had predicted. New Orleans shot 51.9% from the field, including 7-17 from three, and outrebounded Incarnate Word 34-25, limiting the Cardinals to just 39.7% shooting. The Privateers' strong performance was a continuation of their recent trend, where they have averaged 77.8 points per game over their last five contests, outscoring their opponents by an average of 1.2 points. In contrast, Incarnate Word has struggled, averaging 74.6 points per game while allowing 84.2 points per game, resulting in a 1-4 record over their last five games. The Cardinals' Davion Bailey led the team with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Privateers' balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures.

As the game progressed, it became clear that New Orleans was the better team, with a 39-28 lead at halftime that they would never relinquish. The Privateers' defense was particularly effective, holding Incarnate Word to just 36 points in the second half, including a stretch of over four minutes where the Cardinals failed to score. Meanwhile, New Orleans continued to push the pace, scoring 39 points in the second half to match their first-half total. The Privateers' ability to maintain their intensity and focus throughout the game was a key factor in their victory, and it's a reflection of their recent form, where they have gone 3-2 over their last five games, including wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Northwestern State. Incarnate Word, on the other hand, has struggled to find consistency, with their only win over their last five games coming against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The stat line doesn't fully capture the impact of Coleton Benson's performance, as he hit several big shots to help New Orleans maintain their lead. Benson was 7-12 from the field, including 2-4 from three, and his 18 points were a game-high. Meanwhile, Incarnate Word's Tahj Staveskie had a solid game, scoring 16 points and dishing out 5 assists, but he was unable to get much help from his teammates. The Cardinals' Harold Woods chipped in with 8 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Privateers' balanced attack. New Orleans' Jakevion Buckley and TJ Cope also had strong games, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively, and helping to stretch the Incarnate Word defense. As the game wore on, it became clear that New Orleans had the deeper and more talented roster, and they were able to use that to their advantage.

The game was a quintessential example of how a team's recent form can be a strong indicator of their performance. New Orleans, with their 3-2 record over their last five games, was able to use their momentum to overpower Incarnate Word, who had struggled to a 1-4 record over the same stretch. The Privateers' ability to score efficiently, averaging 77.8 points per game over their last five contests, was a key factor in their victory, as they were able to outscore Incarnate Word by an average of 1.2 points per game. Meanwhile, the Cardinals' struggles on defense, where they have allowed an average of 84.2 points per game over their last five contests, were exposed by the Privateers' balanced attack. As the season wears on, it's clear that New Orleans is a team on the rise, while Incarnate Word is struggling to find their footing.

The CHD Scout prediction of a 0.9-point New Orleans win was correct, but the margin of victory was much larger than expected. The key factor in the Privateers' dominant performance was their ability to shut down Incarnate Word's offense, holding them to just 39.7% shooting from the field. The Cardinals' recent trend of struggling on defense, where they have allowed an average of 84.2 points per game over their last five contests, was a major factor in the prediction, and New Orleans was able to take advantage of that. The Privateers' balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures, was also a key factor in their victory, as they were able to stretch the Incarnate Word defense and create scoring opportunities. As the season wears on, it's clear that New Orleans is a team to watch, while Incarnate Word is struggling to find their footing.

The win was a significant one for New Orleans, as it improved their record to 12-15 on the season. The Privateers have been playing well of late, with a 3-2 record over their last five games, and this victory was a reflection of their recent form. Incarnate Word, on the other hand, fell to 10-17 on the season, and their struggles continue to mount. The Cardinals have lost four of their last five games, and their only win over that stretch came against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. As the season wears on, it's clear that New Orleans is a team on the rise, while Incarnate Word is struggling to find their footing. The Privateers' ability to score efficiently, averaging 77.8 points per game over their last five contests, has been a key factor in their recent success, and they want to continue that trend as they head into the final stretch of the season.

The win was a significant one for New Orleans, as it improved their NET ranking to 222 and gave them a crucial Quadrant 4 win. The Privateers' resume is starting to take shape, and this victory was a key factor in their tournament hopes. Incarnate Word, on the other hand, saw their NET ranking fall to 278, and their chances of making a postseason run are dwindling. The Cardinals' recent trend of struggling on defense, where they have allowed an average of 84.2 points per game over their last five contests, is a major concern, and they must address that if they hope to make a late-season push. As the season wears on, it's clear that New Orleans is a team to watch, while Incarnate Word is struggling to find their footing. The Privateers' ability to score efficiently and play tough defense has been a key factor in their recent success, and they want to continue that trend as they head into the final stretch of the season.

The final margin of 14 points was a reflection of New Orleans' dominance, as they outscored Incarnate Word by 11 points in the second half. The Privateers' ability to maintain their intensity and focus throughout the game was a key factor in their victory, and it's a reflection of their recent form, where they have gone 3-2 over their last five games. Incarnate Word, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 39.7% from the field and committing 12 turnovers. The Cardinals' recent trend of struggling on defense, where they have allowed an average of 84.2 points per game over their last five contests, was exposed by the Privateers' balanced attack, and they must address that if they hope to make a late-season push. As the season wears on, it's clear that New Orleans is a team on the rise, while Incarnate Word is struggling to find their footing. The Privateers' win over the Cardinals was a significant one, and it's a reflection of their recent form and their chances of making a postseason run.

HEADLINE: New Orleans Privateers Defeat Incarnate Word Cardinals 78-64 Behind Balanced Attack SUBHEADLINE: The Privateers' 14-point victory improved their record to 12-15 on the season and gave them a crucial Quadrant 4 win, with 77.8 points per game averaged over their last five contests.