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Men’s Basketball: Cajuns strive for SBC West’s No. 1 seedMen’s Basketball: Cajuns strive for SBC West’s No. 1 seed Men’s Basketball: Cajuns strive for SBC West’s No. 1 seed Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 26, 2011 La’Ryan Gary had a feeling that UL would be a good team under first-year coach Bob Marlin despite coming off a disappointing 13-17 season.
Denver Pioneers forward Chris Udofia (34) tries to block UL forward J.J. Thomas during their recent game. (Brad Kemp/bkemp@theadvertiser.com La’Ryan Gary had a feeling that UL would be a good team under first-year coach Bob Marlin despite coming off a disappointing 13-17 season.
Another adjective — red-hot — would better describe how the Ragin’ Cajuns have been playing for the past month. With a win over UL Monroe at 6 p.m. today in their regular-season finale, the Cajuns would clinch at least a share of the Sun Belt’s West Division title and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. They would claim the outright divisional championship with a win over the Warhawks and an Arkansas State loss tonight to Arkansas-Little Rock. The Cajuns (13-14, 10-5 Sun Belt) have won 10 straight games, the second-longest active win streak in the nation behind George Mason (14). It’s also tied for the fourth-best win streak in school history. They go for 11 in a row tonight against in-state conference rival ULM (7-22, 2-13) in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. "We’ve had a great run," Marlin said. "If we want to continue it, we’re going to have to play well in Monroe." On Thursday, the Cajuns certainly didn’t play their best on Senior Night but made enough plays down the stretch to rally for a 58-52 win over Denver in overtime. It came before a season-best crowd of 8,066 in the Cajundome in the final regular-season home game for seniors Travis Bureau, Randell Daigle and La’Ryan Gary. Gary, back after a one-year absence due to a serious knee injury, set career highs in points (22), blocked shots (five) and minutes played (39) in the win. The senior forward made 12-of-15 free throws, including two with 25.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. In the extra session, Gary scored seven of UL’s eight points to seal it. His baby hook tied the game 52-52 in overtime. He then made 5-of-6 free throws in the final two minutes to lift the Cajuns to the narrow win. "La’Ryan had a career night," Marlin said. "He was definitely the guy that we wanted at the free–throw line late." With the victory the Cajuns moved ahead of Denver in the divisional standings. The Pioneers entered the night tied atop the West Division with UL and Arkansas State. Each of the past nine wins for the Cajuns have been by single digits. They’ve won those games by an average of five points. The second victory during UL’s win streak came against ULM, 84-75, on Jan. 22 in the Cajundome behind J.J. Thomas’ 22 points.
Thomas leads the Cajuns in scoring this season at 11.7 points per game. Junior guard Josh Brown (10.5 ppg) and Bureau (10.3 ppg) also score in double digits. The Cajuns won a share of the Sun Belt’s West Division championship in the 2007-08 season. They last won the outright West Division title in the 2003-04 season. "We’re finding ways to win," Marlin said. "Our coaching staff has made a career out of winning ugly. Hopefully we can make some shots Saturday and make things a little easier down the stretch." ULM will hold the team’s Senior Night festivities tonight, retire the No. 12 jersey of its former All-America guard Glynn Saulters and honor the school’s newest Hall of Fame class. This season has been largely forgettable for the Warhawks under first-year coach Keith Richard, although they upset North Texas, 82-75, on Feb. 19 in Denton to end a nine-game slide. Junior guard Fred Brown, a transfer from Kansas State, had 24 points and five assists that night. Brown is fourth in the Sun Belt this season in 3-pointers made per game (2.1) and 10th in scoring (13.9 ppg). ULM’s other double-digit scorers are senior forwards Tommie Sykes (11.8 ppg) and Lawrence Gilbert (11.6 ppg). While the Cajuns have won nine straight conference games — tying a school record set in the 2002-03 season — and three in a row on the road, ULM is 0-7 at home this season against Sun Belt opponents. "Coach (Marlin) told us that they haven’t won a home game in conference, but we’re not looking at that because rival teams always come with their best effort," Gary said. "They gave us a fight when they came down here to the Cajundome, and we need to give them a fight up there." 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 Click here for the Denver vs. UL Photo Gallery
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