New Orleans knocks off TCU for first Power Four win in nine years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coleton Benson scored 24 points to help New Orleans hold off TCU 78-74 in a season opener Monday night, giving the Privateers their first win over a Power Four opponent since 2016.
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Benson hit a pair of late free throws to seal the victory after TCU had trimmed a 20-point deficit to two with just over two minutes remaining. New Orleans (1-0) led 44-28 at halftime behind Benson’s 12 first-half points and 10 more from Kendrick Osby.
Jakevion Buckley stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, nine assists, four steals and a block, though he committed 10 of the Privateers’ 19 turnovers. MJ Thomas went 5 for 5 from the field for 10 points off the bench.
TCU (0-1) used a 12-0 run late to get within 70-62, and Jayden Pierre’s layup cut it to 72-70 before Benson’s free throws ended the comeback bid. David Punch led the Horned Frogs with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Micah Robinson added 14.
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The loss marked TCU’s first home non-conference defeat since 2022 and just its sixth in 75 such games under head coach Jamie Dixon.
The win also marked the first under new New Orleans president of basketball operations and assistant coach Percy “Master P” Miller, who joined the program in the offseason.
New Orleans heads to Baton Rouge for an in-state matchup with LSU on Monday night.
