NEW ORLEANS, La. _ The first-place New Orleans Privateers improved to 11-3 in Southland Conference play Saturday with an 84-61 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears at Lakefront Arena.

    The Privateers (16-9) got 23 points and 13 rebounds from Erik Thomas and held the Bears to just 35.6 percent shooting for the game and just 20.8 percent (5 of 24) from three-point range in their second straight loss after a four-game winning streak. UCA had only one player, senior Derreck Brooks, in double figures with 14 points. The Bears (8-20, 7-8) lost to Nicholls on Thursday night to begin the road trip.

    UCA junior guard Jordan Howard made a three-pointer for the 68th consecutive game but struggled otherwise, failing to reach double figures for just the fourth time in 85 career games. The Bears were also outrebounded 45-32 by the Privateers, with UNO pulling down 17 offensive boards.

    New Orleans led 38-24 at halftime, but then shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and outscored UCA 46-37 after the break. Christavious Gill and Nate Frye added 12 points each for the Privateers, who made 14 of 28 from three-point range after entering the game next-to-last in the SLC in three-point accuracy. Seven different players connected from three-point range for UNO.

    UCA continues its road trip at Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night in a doubleheader with the Sugar Bears in Hammond, La.