Box Score

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Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com

Travis Bureau’s two free throws with less than a second remaining sealed a 67-66 win over UALR on Saturday at the Cajundome as Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns won their fifth straight contest.

Bureau’s free throws capped off a season-high 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. For the game, Bureau hit a career-high 13-of-17 free throws as the team went 30-of-38 from the charity stripe.

The win pulls the Cajuns to 5-5 in the Sun Belt and a record of 8-14 overall. The Trojans fall to 13-12 and share a 5-5 record in the league.

Another key to the victory was limiting UALR to just 2-of-13 from beyond-the-arc after a tenacious defensive effort. Entering the game, the Trojans were ranked second in the nation in three-point percentage (.431). The two made baskets tied a season-low for UALR.

After a tight first half, the second half saw the Trojans stretch their lead to as much as six points, 40-34. But UL stepped up on the defensive end and a trey by La’Ryan Gary at the 11:40 mark tied the contest at 48-48.

On the next possession, Bryant Mbamalu scored a basket to give the Cajuns a 50-48 edge. But the Cajuns would not hit another field goal for nearly five minutes and let the lead slip. It took a jumper from Gary to swing the score back to the Cajuns, 56-55.

The one-point margin held until Raymone Andrews hit two from the free throw line with 3:04 left to push UL’s lead to 60-57.

After connecting on two free throws, Bureau picked Daylon Guy and went the length of the court for a lay-up to extend UL’s lead to 64-59 with just under two minutes remaining.

But the Trojans were able to rattle off a 5-1 run to bring the game back to one point, 65-64.

With 19.2 seconds, UALR looked to play for the last shot. A foul with 8.8 on the clock sent the Trojans to the line, where they hit both to take a 66-65 lead.

But with time running down, UL was able to advance the ball down the court where Bureau drew a foul and sank both chip shots with 0.6 seconds on the clock.

The majority of the first half saw both teams keeping pace with each other. Neither team led by more than two points until David Perez knocked down three free throws to give UL a 25-20 lead with 4:05 remaining.

But by the 3:37 mark, the game had seen its 10^th tie as the Trojans knotted up the score, 25-25.

The score was tied 31-31 with 1.5 seconds remaining but the Cajuns were whistled for a shooting foul and a technical foul. UALR made three of four from the line to hold a 34-31 advantage at the break.

In the first half there were 12 ties and the lead changed hands seven times. In all, there 19 ties and 14 lead changes.

UL struggled from the floor in the first 20 minutes, shooting 37.5 percent (9-24) but was able to stay in the contest after going 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. The Cajuns finished the game at 34.0 percent (17-50).

Joining Bureau in double figures was J.J. Thomas. Thomas finished with 16 points and nine boards, two blocks and a steal.

The Cajuns will now head to the Sunshine State for a two-game swing at FIU on Thursday and FAU on Saturday. Both games are set for 6 p.m. CT.

Athletic Network Footnote:

Click here for the photo gallery of the Jan. 21-22, 2011 Basketball Reunion

Click here for the January 18, 2003 Basketball Reunion  

Click here for the Nov. 1-2, 2001 Shipley Basketball Reunion