Versatile contributor – Moore masters complementary role for Cajuns

He will play the final regular-season game of his college career this afternoon when UL faces South Alabama at the Cajundome.

Before it gets under way, forward Elridge Moore will be honored on Senior Day along with fellow Ragin’ Cajun seniors Bryant Mbamalu and Braylon Lazare.

Later, with the passing of time, just what the Cajuns will miss as a result of his departure will be evident.

Coach Bob Marlin’s club got a sneak peek of what’s to come, though, when Moore missed five straight games in December and early January due to a sprained ankle: It was without someone who, in two seasons starting for UL, has typically been good for honest night’s work even when undersized and playing essentially out of position as a 6-foot-5, 2105-pound power forward.

“He’s a good defensive player,” Marlin said of Moore, a product of St. Augustine High in New Orleans who started his college career at Nicholls State and transferred to UL from Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

“He started the year off shooting the ball pretty good for us, having some good games. Then he gets hurt the (afternoon) before we play the University of Houston (in mid-December), and missed about (four) weeks, and really hasn’t been the same until recently.”

UL (18-10) went 3-2 with wins over Houston (in overtime), Centenary and Central Methodist but losses at Jackson State and UL Monroe during the stretch in which Moore, who has started 20 of his 23 games this season, missed time.

He had three straight double-digit scoring games to start the season, including a career-high 16 points with nine rebounds in a mid-November win over McNeese State, but hasn’t scored more than seven since his return.

Moore did, however, have seven points with 10 boards in a key mid-January win at Texas-Arlington.

“We’ve put him in some tough situations,” Marlin said, “and I think he’s really helped this program.”

Moore is averaging 4.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game with three games including today’s remaining for the Cajuns.

After a road trip to Western Kentucky on Thursday night and Arkansas State on Saturday night, the former first-team All-State pick and District MVP heads to familiar territory in New Orleans.

“It will be a nice trip home for him,” Marlin said, “and hopefully he’ll have great memories of his Sun Belt Tournament experience.”