NEW ORLEANS -- Makur Puou and Travin Thibodeaux combined for 41 points as New Orleans dominated the second half to roll to a 90-74 win over McNeese in Southland Conference play on Saturday.

New Orleans (14-12, 11-4), which won the conference last year, remains 1.5 games behind league-leading Nicholls. The victory gave the Privateers 800 wins in program history.

Puou, who was 9 of 12 from the floor to total 23 points, also grabbed eight rebounds. Thibodeaux hit 8 of 16 field-goal attempts to total 18 points while dishing out seven assists. Bryson Robinson had 14 points and Lamont Berzat added seven points with six assists and four steals for New Orleans.

The Privateers had a slim 33-32 halftime advantage but quickly turned that into a 62-42 lead midway in the second half and cruised to the win.

Quatarrius Wilson had his fifth consecutive double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds for McNeese (9-15, 6-8).