A slow start in Dallas led to a 125 to 120 loss for the Pelicans against the Mavericks. New Orleans was just 3 of 17 from the field in the first quarter. Head Coach Willie Green says Dallas had them on their heels to start the game.
Cut 17 (16) “… physical team.”
The Pelicans finish up a five-game road trip with a 3-and-2 record. They are 24-17 at the halfway point of the season.

Tampa Bay is moving on in the N-F-C playoffs as Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes in the Buccaneers 32-9 win over the Eagles. One of those touchdown passes went to former Kentwood star Trey Palmer.

And the Falcons have interviewed future hall of fame coach Bill Belichick.

McNeese took over sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference with an 88-69 win over Lamar University last night. Coach Will Wade’s team exploded for 47 points in the second half…
cut 20 (16) “…as well”
The Cowboys are 4-and-0 in the Southland and at 15-and-2 overall, McNeese is receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in program history.

Also in the Southland…Nicholls rallied from a 17-point second half deficit to beat UNO 78-75. Northwestern State held on to beat Houston Christian 69-64, while Southeastern Louisiana lost to Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 73-68.

Southern lost to Bethune Cookman 83-81 in overtime to fall to 3-and-1 in the SWAC. Grambling improved to 3-and-1 in the SWAC with a 65-52 win at Florida A-and-M.

Louisiana Tech athletics director Eric Wood is moving on as he’s accepted the position of Senior Deputy A-D at Ole Miss. Wood was in Ruston for over three years.