Bleu Devils drop heartbreaker to SUNO

Not able to hold on in the last two minutes, the Dillard Bleu Devils (4-19, 1-14) lost a heartbreaker to Southern University at New Orleans (10-13, 5-10), 62-58, in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action, Thursday night at Dent Gym.

Dillard's James Burkes led all scorers with 19 points, while pulling down seven rebounds; he was followed by Mico Sjekloca, who had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

After being up by as many as 13 points (24-11) midway through the first period, the Bleu Devils had a 31-29 lead at the break. When the two teams returned, SUNO started chipping away until it gained a one-point lead (35-34) at 17:42. DU fought its way back, maintaining a single digit lead - with a few ties in between - before Burkes fouled SUNO's Ronald Palmer, sending him to the line for two free throws at the 1:49 mark. Palmer went 1 for 1 and the Bleu Devils missed a three-point attempt on the next possession, which was rebounded by Andre Davis, who hit a field goal with 46 seconds remaining to give the Knights a three-point lead, 61-58.

DU still had a chance, but Lance Bell missed a long-range jumper - which the Bleu Devils rebounded, but SUNO followed with a timeout. On the next play, Dillard got caught in traffic and had to take a break in the action with just 15 ticks left to go. A subsequent turnover and foul by Burkes sent the Knights' Jared Drake to the charity stripe. He too went 1 for 1 and a last second three-pointer by Dillard's Avry Ingram was no good, and rebounded by SUNO to end the game.

Ricardo Porter led the Knights with 18 points and Davis posted a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Palmer and Lionel Green had 10 points apiece.

The Bleu Devils will face the Xavier University Gold Rush (15-12, 6-9) at The Barn for the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crosstown Classic, this Saturday, February 20, at 7 p.m.