Men’s Basketball: Payton Claims LSWA Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

Matt Sullivan, Asst Sports Information Director, December 16, 2013

Junior records third 30-point game in come-from-behind win over Houston

BATON ROUGE – After recording his second 30-point game of the season in a come-from-behind overtime victory over Houston, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns guard Elfrid Payton was selected on Monday as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Payton, a junior from Gretna, scored 31 points with five rebounds and five assists in a 79-76 contest on Saturday at the Cajundome that helped Louisiana (7-3) to its fifth victory in the past six games. The former John Ehret High product finished 10-for-19 from the floor and 11 of 19 from the free throw line as he helped the Cajuns rally from a 10-point second-half deficit.

After missing his first four shots and being held scoreless through the first 8:25 of the contest, Payton went 5-for-7 from the floor down the stretch, scoring 12 points in the first half and keeping the Ragin’ Cajuns within striking distance.

Payton helped erase a 42-32 deficit in the second half as he keyed a 13-3 run in the second half by the Cajuns by having a hand in every point, scoring seven points and handing out assists on a pair of 3-pointers, to even the game at 45-45.

With the Cajuns trailing 69-68, Payton made one of two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to force overtime. In overtime, Payton had a basket and added an assist on a 3-pointer by Xavian Rimmer as part of a 7-0 run that gave Louisiana the lead for good. Payton added a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to extend the Cajuns’ lead to three to secure the win.

The 31-point effort was Payton’s third career 30-point game and first since scoring a career-high 32 in a win over Oakland last month in the EA Sports Maui on the Mainland Classic.

Payton, the third-leading scorer in the Sun Belt Conference (20.2), leads the league in assists (5.5) and steals (2.3) while ranking 11th in rebounds (6.0).

The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action on Tuesday when it plays host to Centenary in a 7:05 p.m. contest.