Men’s Basketball: Ragin’ Cajuns Withstand Cuban Rally For 70-64 Victory

HAVANA – Bryce Washington scored all of his team-high 15 points in the second half and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball withstood a third-quarter rally by the Cuban National Team to earn a 70-64 victory on Thursday in the final game of the Ragin’ Cajuns three-game trip to Cuba.
 
Johnathan Stove capped off an impressive week for Louisiana scoring 14 points while averaging a team-high 16.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in the three games against the more experienced Cuban team.
 
Louisiana jumped out to a 17-10 lead after the first quarter and led 39-29 at halftime before Cuba rallied in the third period. Jasiel Rivero scored seven of his game-high 20 points in the quarter as the Cubans outscored Louisiana, 23-16, and took its first lead since the opening minute on a bucket by Luis German for a 52-50 lead.
 
Washington would give the Ragin’ Cajuns the lead as his three-point play and bucket in the final seconds gave Louisiana a 55-52 lead.
 
In the fourth period, Washington, who finished 6-for-10 from the floor, scored six points while Larenz Stalcup scored four of his six points in the final 10 minutes to help Louisiana preserve the win.
 
Justin Miller added 10 points for Louisiana while Marcus Stroman scored eight points with two assists. Stalcup pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Stove and Washington pulling down six each.
 
Yasser Rodriguez scored 15 points for the Cubans, going 6-for-9 from the floor. Rivero pulled down nine rebounds for Cuba while averaging 21.0 points in the three games against Louisiana.