HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, D’Aundre Samuels’ floating jumper with two seconds remaining lifted Houston Christian to a 61-60 victory over New Orleans in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Sharp Gymnasium.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 706, saw 15 lead changes and neither team lead by more than five points. It culminated in a final, frantic sequence where the Huskies executed under pressure and the Privateers were left to rue a critical missed free throw in the closing seconds.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 14 seconds. With Houston Christian clinging to a 59-57 lead, New Orleans’ Coleton Benson was fouled on a three-point attempt with two seconds left. Benson made the first two free throws to tie the game but missed the third. The Huskies’ Ryan Bartley secured the defensive rebound and called an immediate timeout.

Out of the timeout, Houston Christian inbounded the ball to Samuels near midcourt. The 6-foot-2 guard from Denver drove hard to his right, pulled up just inside the free-throw line and released a high-arcing shot over a contesting defender that dropped through the net as the clock showed 0:02. New Orleans’ desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the Huskies’ narrow win.

The game-winning play capped a standout performance for Samuels, who finished with 15 points, three assists and three blocks in 32 minutes, including the decisive basket.

The entire second half was a tense affair, with the largest lead being a five-point edge for Houston Christian at 53-48 with just over six minutes to play. New Orleans, led by the interior dominance of Churchill Abass, continually fought back. Abass, a 6-foot-10 junior from Edo State, Nigeria, was a force for the Privateers, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds and a block in just 24 minutes.

His ability to score in the paint was a primary reason New Orleans held a commanding 44-30 advantage in that category. MJ Thomas added 12 points for the Privateers, while Tavaj Cope contributed 10 points and three assists.

For Houston Christian, balance was key. Alongside Samuels, Demarco Bethea scored 13 points, Ryan Bartley added 13 points and Trent Johnson chipped in nine points. The Huskies, despite shooting just 23 of 53 from the field, made five three-pointers to New Orleans’ one and were slightly more efficient at the free-throw line, making 10 of 14 attempts compared to the Privateers’ 9-of-16 performance.

The statistical story was one of remarkable efficiency parity. Both teams finished with an identical offensive rating of 95.8, with New Orleans scoring 60 points on 63 possessions and Houston Christian scoring 61 on 64 possessions. The game was won on the margins: Houston Christian committed 12 turnovers to New Orleans’ 10, but the Huskies blocked six shots and made one more three-pointer.

Defensively, both teams struggled from the perimeter. New Orleans shot a dismal 1 for 8 from three-point range, while Houston Christian was only slightly better at 5 for 20. The game was ultimately decided by the Huskies’ ability to make a critical play in the final moments after the Privateers failed to convert a potential go-ahead free throw.

With the loss, New Orleans falls to 12-15 overall. Houston Christian improves to 9-17. The Huskies also evened the season series after the Privateers won the first meeting 84-78 in overtime on Feb. 9. In their prior matchup this season on Dec. 6, Houston Christian had won 85-76 in New Orleans.

New Orleans next travels to face Incarnate Word on Monday. Houston Christian remains at home to host Nicholls State, also on Monday.