DENVER (AP)—Bo McCalebb scored 22 points as New Orleans pulled within a game of the leaders in the Sun Belt West Division with a 60-54 victory over Denver Sunday night.
McCalebb, the Sun Belt Conference’s leading scorer, hit his first four shots before finishing 7-for-14 and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. James Parlow added 10 points for New Orleans (18-10, 8-8 Sun Belt).
The Privateers trail division tri-leaders Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas-Little Rock and North Texas by a game with two games remaining in the regular season.
New Orleans completed a sweep of Denver this year and has won the last five meetings between the two teams.
Adam Tanner led Denver (11-16, 7-9) with 18 points. Rob Lewis had 13 points before fouling out with five minutes and 12 seconds left.
Tanner’s 3-pointer put Denver up 35-32 early in the second half, but Ben Elias’ layup capped a 12-0 run for the Privateers and gave them the lead, 44-35, with 13:34 to play. Joe Jackson got the Pioneers back within 48-47 with 4:30 left before New Orleans pulled away again.
Rob Lewis and Tanner scored 10 points each and Denver capitalized on the absence of McCalebb for the last six minutes of the first half to lead 30-29. The Pioneers outscored New Orleans 12-6 after McCalebb picked up his second foul and went out with six minutes remaining.
