Welcome everyone to the latest edition of #3OT where I break down what went right and what went wrong for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns! In this edition, I look at their 74-70 loss to Georgia Southern.
1st OT: Strong End to First Half
If there’s one thing that can change the outcome to a ballgame, it’s momentum heading into the locker room. In the final minutes of the first half, the Cajuns had all of the momentum on Monday night. In the final two minutes, they were able to get on a 15-2 run to get it within two points at the half. This was crucial for the Cajuns to take the lead early on in the second half. If it hadn’t happened, we could be talking about an incredibly one-sided affair as Georgia Southern had gone up by as much as 15 points in the first half. It was a big step in the right direction for them and should have led to a win.
2nd OT: Strong Performance From Starting Five
The Ragin Cajuns were able to have a strong performance all the way around when it comes to their starters. It’s not often you see a pair of Cajuns go for all 40 minutes in the game, but when you need the more experienced players to step up and try and end this road trip on a positive note that’s what needed to be done. Four of the starting five were able to score double digits and Bryce Washington had another great game with his 19th double-double of the season. Washington has been a solid replacement for Shawn Long for most of the season, but it seems like they’re missing one thing to get past these higher level teams.
3rd OT: Less than Stellar Defensive Effort Late Key to Loss
Even as the Cajuns were able to take the lead early in the second half, Georgia Southern was able to just hang around. It wasn’t until the final minutes that they were able to get back in the lead and hold on for good. The Cajuns defense needed to step up late to hold on for the win. That was not what happened as the Eagles came away with another win to solidify their spot at the top of the conference.
-Clint Domingue