New Orleans, LA -- (Sports Network) - Bo McCalebb posted a game-high 20 points to lead the New Orleans Privateers to a 65-60 victory over the Denver Pioneers in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Human Performance Center.

Kyndall Dykes added 16 points off the bench in the win for New Orleans (19-12), which will now face South Alabama on Sunday.

Nate Rohnert scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench to pace Denver (11-19), while Kyle Lewis chipped in 11 points in the losing effort.

The Privateers held Denver to a mere 33.3 percent shooting effort from the floor during the first period, opening a 30-17 halftime lead.

New Orleans shot at a solid 54.2 percent clip during the second stanza en route to the five-point victory.

The Privateers shot 52.0 percent from the field in the contest, and overcame poor shooting from behind the arc (1-of-8) and from the foul line (12-of-21).