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Men’s Basketball: Cajuns fall to Evansville on Blackham court – photo gallery includedTim Buckley, The Advertiser, March 26, 2015
UL’s Shawn Long (21) is double teamed by the University of Evansville’s Egidijus Mockevicius (55) and Adam Wing (12) in a CIT basketball tournament game Thursday at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette.(Photo: Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser)
PHOTO GALLERY: Back In Blackham: UL vs. U. of Evansville Men’s Basketball
After being housed in the ol’ building from 1950 until 1985, and again for four games in the 2005-06 season because two hurricanes forced them out of the Cajundome, the UL basketball team played at Blackham Coliseum for the first time in nearly 10 years. The Ragin’ Cajuns took a few days early this week making it logistically possible but lost their quarterfinal-round CollegeInsider.com Tournament game 89-82 to Evansville on Thursday night in front of 3,541, then had to pack up its court and vacate by 8 a.m. Friday because another event is booked there. Even with the loss, the short visit was enough to make UL redshirt junior big man Shawn Long, a pro prospect and their leading scorer and rebounder this season, appreciate the storied past of Blackham, which old Cajun greats like Bo Lamar and Andrew Toney once called home. “It was a great experience, you know,” Long said of playing in an arena where fans spent more time standing they did sitting on its wooden benches. “They’ve got a lot of history in this building. “It was a great experience for us and the fans,” he added, “and I wish we could do it again, hope we could do it again.” Asked if he thought he’d be a part of it should there be an opportunity to play in Blackham again next season — whether he’s already decided to return for his senior season or to make himself eligible or not for the NBA Draft, in other words — Long was indecisive. “I’m not really thinking about that right now,” he said. “I’m just trying to take off some time, and just get my body together. That’s it.” UL coach Bob Marlin said Long signed an undergraduate advisory sheet earlier this week so he can get feedback on his NBA stock before finalizing his choice, and that the paperwork would be submitted Friday. “It’s up to him,” Marlin said of Long, who finished with 24 points including 7-for-11 field shooting and 11 rebounds Thursday night. Kasey Shepherd added 15 points and Devonta Walker 13 for the Cajuns, who finished the 2014-15 season 22-14 with victories in nine of their 11 games. But with D.J. Balentine, Evansville’s top scorer this season at 19.5 points per game, scoring a game-high 35 and the 22-12 Purple Aces shooting 56.6 percent from the field, UL went down in its third of three games in the 32-team CIT. “He’s a great player. He’s the leading scorer in the (Missouri Valley Conference) two years in a row, and he played like it tonight,” Marlin said. “He made big shots, and step-backs. … Balentine’s good. I mean, if he was a couple inches taller, he’d be in the (NBA Draft) Lottery.” The 6-foot-2 Balentine shot 11-for-18 from the field, including 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and scored 17 of his 35 during a first half that the Aces led 44-37. “He’s one of them guys that don’t really have a conscience, you know?” Long said. “He was having a good night. (Freshman Johnathan) Stove contested most of his shots. He got a couple open ones, but for the majority Stove was guarding him pretty well. He just made some tough ones.” UL never led after the break, but was within four with just more than three minutes left and within six with 51 seconds to go. But after the Cajuns cut it to 76-72 with a Bryce Washington bucket, Evansville got an Egidiju Mockevicius layup assisted by Balentine that spurred a quick 6-0 run. And after Shepherd hit a 3-pointer to make it 86-80 in the final minute, Balentine answered with two free throws to essentially seal things. “I turned the ball over a couple times (late),” Long said, “and they scored the last seven possessions in a row or something. “We gave them 60 percent (shooting) or something,” he added. “You can’t win games like that.” Marlin agreed. “Evansville has one of the best basketball teams that’s been to Lafayette this year,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any question about that. “They put on a show, and we can’t give up 57 percent from the floor and shoot (41.4) and expect to win a basketball game. I was kind of surprised we were able to stay as close as we did.” Beyond the Aces’ shooting, Thursday’s setting might not have made it any easier for the Cajuns. “We wanted to continue the legacy, and try to win tonight in Blackham,” Marlin said. “Didn’t make it happen. “They’re from Indiana, guys,” the Cajun coach added. “I mean, they walked in here and saw this building and they thought about ‘Hoosiers.’ They shot the cover off the ball. We couldn’t stop them.” * * * * * * * * * * Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas Click below for the video depicting the Blackham historical highlights and attend the game to view the new highlights in person. “Tributes to Blackham” 1985 by KLFY and KATC TV (2 sections) posted by Jay Walker, ESPN 1420 Bobby Paschal coached the Cajuns in 1984-85, the team’s last season in Blackham and continued as our coach in 1985-86, his last year at USL and the Cajuns first season playing in the Cajundome. Click here for the story by Dan McDonald in The Advertiser on Dec. 23, 2005 entitled, "The Red vs. White Game" when McNeese forgot their uniforms and wore the Cajuns’ red ones. Players and coaches whose teams played at Blackham were recognized at half-time of the game. Coaches recognized included Jim Hatfield, Bobby Paschal, and Ricky Broussard. Players recognized included Alonza Allen, Charlie English, Kevin Figaro, Wayne Julien, Chris Landry, Eddie Mouton, and Clyde Scheufens.
Click here for "Spotlight on Former Athlete: Hatfield/Paschal Men’s Basketball Reunion of the 1974-86 Years" – featured by Bruce Brown. Click here for a 360 degree look at UL’s return to Blackham by Leslie Westbrook of the Advertiser.
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