Men’s Basketball: Dome Patrol – Cajuns remain undefeated in SBC in Cajundome – photo gallery

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 21, 2010

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Only a freshman, Raymone Andrews has already developed a reputation as a lock-down defender for UL and a cerebral point guard who still needed to improve his offensive game. 

 

Andrews drew a charge and made a key steal in the final two minutes Saturday but also hit a pair of free throws to lift the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 73-71 win over UL Monroe on Senior Night.

Those free throws with 1:27 to go were the only points in the game for Andrews, who was largely overlooked coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas before signing with UL last spring.

"Raymone does the little things for you," UL coach Robert Lee said. "That steal he made was a tremendous play. For a freshman to go to the line and knock those two free throws down with the game tied shows a lot of poise for a guy who is not the greatest shooter in the world.

"He showed a lot of poise and concentration to knock down those free throws for us."

With the victory, UL (13-14, 10-6 Sun Belt) finished the season undefeated in the Cajundome with a 9-0 mark against league opponents. The only other time the Cajuns were perfect at home in Sun Belt play was during the 2001-02 season.

The emotional win came before a season-best home crowd of 3,984 in what was the final game in the Cajundome for seniors Tyren Johnson, Lamar Roberson, Willie Lago, Corey Bloom and Courtney Wallace.

It also could end up being the final game in the Cajundome for Lee, who is in the final year of his contract.

For the Cajuns, it was their fourth consecutive game that was decided in the final minute.

"I tried to hold back the tears, but I couldn’t do it," said Johnson, who scored 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting. "I love playing in this city, and I love this school. To go out as a winner is a great feeling for me."

Randell Daigle snapped a recent shooting slump with 19 points after making 7-of-12 shots from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range.

The Cajuns, who shot 50 percent overall and scored 16 points off 14 turnovers, got seven points from Lago and five apiece from Roberson and Chris Gradnigo.

Gradnigo, who entered the night as UL’s second-leading scorer this season, was taken to the hospital after an awkward fall with 3:04 left before halftime.

His future playing status was unknown as of presstime Saturday.

"He was having a lot of pain in his back and a sharp pain going down his leg," Lee said. "He was having a lot of trouble being able to walk."

ULM coach Orlando Early was left to deal with a frustrating loss despite winning the rebounding battle, 36-24, and out-scoring the Cajuns in points in the paint, 36-16, and second-chance points, 18-8.

Tommy Sykes scored a game-high 27 points after making 8-of-12 field goals and 11-of-15 free throws. Dynile Forbes added 12 points.

The score was tied 10 times and there were 14 lead changes, but the Cajuns had more points when time expired.

"I think they made a few plays down the stretch and we didn’t," Early said. "It was a well-played game by both teams. Both teams played hard. It just came down to the last possession."

After trailing by as many as six points late in the first half, the Cajuns rallied to take a 10-point lead midway through the second half. ULM (11-17, 6-11) fought back and took a 71-70 lead on Forbes’ 3 with 2:32 to go.

UL center Colby Batiste hit one of two free throws 19 seconds later to tie it, 71-71, before Andrews drew a charge against Forbes with 1:56 left to give the Cajuns the ball.

ULM guard Tony Hooper fouled Andrews at the 1:27 mark trying to go for a steal, sending the youngster to the line. He hit both free throws to put UL up by two.

Andrews made a steal on the ensuing possession, but Johnson lost the ball out of bounds to give it back to the Warhawks with 68 seconds remaining.

His pressure on the perimeter against Hooper resulted in another turnover a few seconds later. Forbes eventually got fouled by Batiste with 10 seconds left, but he missed both free throws. UL guard Travis Bureau grabbed the rebound but was called for traveling.

With one last chance to win it in regulation or force overtime, Forbes missed a shot in the final seconds to decide another thriller between the in-state foes.

"They made one or two more plays than we did," Early said. "That’s the ballgame."

UL is now tied for fourth in the overall league standings with Arkansas State, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic with two games left in the regular season. Troy, Middle Tennessee and North Texas are tied for the conference lead with an 11-5 record in Sun Belt play.

The Cajuns, tied with Arkansas State for second in the West and one game behind divisional leader UNT, wraps up the regular season this week on the road. They play UNT on Thursday before going to Denver next Saturday.

UL is still in position to win the West, and with some help could even finish as the league’s top seed for the conference tournament. The No. 1 seed earns an automatic berth to the NIT if it doesn’t win the Sun Belt tournament.

"We know that everything we did tonight that we have to take that on the road with us," Daigle said.

"We have to play with the same intensity, the same energy and do the same things on offense and defense."

Notes: In addition to Johnson, Roberson, Lago, Bloom and Wallace, UL student manager Keith Aikens was also honored before the game. Aikens is a senior at the school "» The Cajuns improved to 43-17 against ULM. They have won 25 straight home games in the series and are 27-2 in Lafayette against the Warhawks. That includes a 5-0 mark in the Cajundome "» Johnson recorded his 11th game this season with at least 20 points. He extended his streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games to 16.