McNeese State handles New Orleans 82-69

LAKE CHARLES (AP) — Kevin Hardy scored 23 points to lead McNeese State past the University of New Orleans 82-69 on Saturday.

McNeese State (4-10, 2-0 Southland) got 22 points from Ledrick Eackles and shot 45 percent from the floor, despite making just 2 of 16 3-pointers. The Cowboys were also handily out-rebounded 50-34, but made 30 of 35 from the foul line while New Orleans (3-7, 0-2 Southland) was 16 of 28.

UNO was paced by Cory Dixon, who scored 24 points and gathered a career-high 17 rebounds. Christavious Gill added 14 points and Isaac Mack had 13 for the Privateers.

McNeese used a 12-0 run midway through the first half, punctuated by a Hardy dunk, en route to a 15-point advantage at intermission at 37-22.

New Orleans whittled the lead to nine in the second, but never got closer. 15 of McNeese's last 21 points came at the foul line.