LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — The New Orleans Privateers used a strong second half to defeat the Houston Christian Huskies 73-60 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at Burton Coliseum.

New Orleans led 34-33 at halftime before outscoring Houston Christian 39-27 after the break. The victory improved the Privateers’ season record to 16-17. The Huskies fell to 12-20.

The game was part of the Southland Conference schedule. New Orleans avenged a 61-60 home loss to Houston Christian from Feb. 14, splitting the regular-season series. The Privateers were pregame favorites and covered the spread as the total score fell well under the projected over/under line.