Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns are officially on fire.  Louisiana took down the top team in the Sun Belt, Florida Atlantic, on Saturday in FAU Arena by the final score of 72-64.  The Cajuns have now won seven consecutive games, including three straight on the road.

It was closely contested throughout, but Louisiana (10-14, 7-5) led nearly the entire contest.

Florida Atlantic (18-9, 10-3) couldn’t overcome the Cajuns hot shooting, as UL hit 51 percent from the floor, including 54.5 percent from three-point range (6-of-11).

The Cajuns built a six-point lead early in the second half, but a 10-2 run by the hosts gave FAU their first lead since the 11:37 mark of the first half.

The teams would go on to change leads 10 times over the next four minutes until La’Ryan Gary buried a triple to give the Cajuns a four-point cushion.

After three straight possessions of free throw shooting, the Cajuns rattled off eight unanswered points.  Baskets by Randell Daigle, Travis Bureau and a second by Daigle preceded two from the line by Raymone Andrews.  When the Cajuns scoring run ended, UL led 68-57 with 4:20 left in the game.

FAU responded with six straight points, all on free throws.  The last set came at the expense of Andrews, who fouled out at the 1:48 mark. 

J.J. Thomas then hit a tough running jumper as the shot clock expired to push the Cajuns lead back to seven points.  Thomas then fouled out on the ensuing FAU possession.

The Owls hit only 1-of-2 from the line and would not score again.  In fact, FAU’s last field goal came at the 10:59 mark.  The Owls led 50-49 at that point.

UL’s defense and rebounding was outstanding all game.  The Cajuns held FAU to 40.4 percent shooting, including 14.3 percent from behind the arc (2-of-14).  UL won the rebounding battle 36-18.

Gary and Daigle each led the Cajuns with 15 points.  Andrews added 13 points.  Josh Brown had a team-high seven rebounds.

The Cajuns were perfect from the free throw line in the game (16-of-16) and have now made 28 consecutive free throws as a team.

Kore White and Shavar Richardson led FAU with 11 points each.  The Owls leading scorers, Greg Gantt, Raymond Taylor and Brett Royster combined for just 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cajuns committed 13 turnovers in the first half, but dominated the boards 20-9 and held FAU to 0-for-7 from three point range in the first 20 minutes.  That collective effort, along with surviving 11 personal fouls, put the Cajuns ahead by four points, 31-27, at the break.

Luckily, four Cajuns turnovers in the first five minutes of the game didn’t put the Cajuns in a hole.  UL actually led 9-6 at the 14:50 mark.

David Perez hit three from the stripe and Daigle collected a steal and coast-to-coast lay-in to give the Cajuns their biggest lead of the first half, 25-19, with 3:42 remaining in the opening 20 minutes.

The Cajuns return to action on Thursday night vs. Arkansas State.  Tipoff is slated for 7:05pm.  The game marks the first of three straight at the Cajundome.

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  

Rebounders Club Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 15th and 22nd…noon, Abacus Station, 510 W. Pinhook Rd….lunch is $13
Geaux Cajuns, Karren Hays 288-2163