The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns extended their home winning streak to 19 games with a 73-62 win over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Wednesday night inside the Cajundome. The Cajuns were led by 19 points from Themus Fulks, and they improved their overall record to 6-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams began sluggishly on offense. The first segment of play before the media timeout only saw nine total points, with Eastern Kentucky leading 5-4. The next segment of play went back and forth, with teams trading buckets. EKU maintained their one-point advantage, leading 15-14 after the second media timeout.
After the Colonels got the lead to 19-14, Louisiana would make a run. 9-0 over the next two and a half minutes gave them a 23-19 advantage. The next media timeout came with Louisiana leading 25-23, with six different Cajuns already on the scoring sheet.
The end of the first half was much like the first, with very limited offense. Each team only got one more bucket, and the halftime score was Louisiana leading 27-25. Themus Fulks led all scorers and was the only player in double figures in the half, finishing it with 10 points.
Each team began the second half with more offensive pace than the first. A quick 5-0 run gave EKU a 30-27 lead, but the Cajuns fought back with an 8-2 run of their own to make it 35-32 in their favor. A three from Tayshawn Comer tied things up at 35 at the first media timeout of the second half.
The Cajuns put together a 12-1 run out of the timeout to create their biggest lead of the game at 47-36. However, the Colonels answered with an 8-0 run that cut the lead to three and was capped by a Turner Buttry three-point shot. Fulks continued to pace the Louisiana offense, and they held a 55-51 lead at the under eight media timeout.
Another good offensive spurt stretched the lead back to nine, as Joe Charles made back-to-back layups before Kobe Julien pitched in with one of his own to make the lead 61-52. The final media timeout saw the Cajuns leading 64-54.
EKU did put together a couple of scoring possessions to make it a five-point game at 64-59. However, Hosana Kitenge made a put back layup and Julien knocked down a clutch three to put the game out of reach and secure the victory.
BIG NUMBER: 62
The Louisiana defense has been inconsistent, but they played with great intensity in the win, holding EKU to just 62 points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Themus Fulks
Fulks led the way with 19 points and four assists. He set the tone and also contributed with defensive effort as well.
UP NEXT: The Cajuns will travel to Lake Charles where they will face the McNeese Cowboys on Sunday, December 18th at 3:00 PM.