With a 85-79 victory Thursday night inside the Cajundome, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns swept the season series from in-state rival ULM Warhawks. The home victory is also the fourth of the season for first-year Cajuns coach Quannas White.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana jumped out to an early lead thanks to layups by Joshua Lewis and Todd Jones Jr. ULM responded by scoring a quick five points to take their first lead, but UL retook it with a three-pointer by Jaxon Olvera.
The two rivals would fight back and forth the rest of the first half, with the lead changing hands eight times in the first half. That was until the Warhawks built up a five-point lead after a Krystian Lewis three-pointer.
The Ragin’ Cajuns rallied with a three by Finister, and then after the two teams traded made threes, Louisiana cut the lead down to one with a three by Dariyus Woodson.
Louisiana would take the lead on a three by Karris Bilal, but ULM quickly tied it with a layup by Alex Molofeev. The Ragin’ Cajuns grabbed their biggest lead since the first two minutes of the game when Woodson hit a three-pointer with 1:42 left.
The Warhawks made a few free throws to make it a one-point game. Neither team would score in the final 1:19 of the first half, as the Ragin’ Cajuns took a 37-36 lead at halftime.
Louisiana started off the second half with a jumper and layup by Lewis to push the Ragin’ Cajuns lead to six points. A few minutes later, Lewis would help push the lead to eight points after a three and a pair of free throws. With 13:21 left in the second, Louisiana led 50-42.
ULM managed to cut the lead down to four points twice in the next few minutes as Mj Russell made a three and a layup. The Cajuns answered yet again as Finister scored seven straight points for Louisiana. With 10:08 left in the second half, the Ragin’ Cajuns led 59-50.
The Ragin’ Cajuns remained in control and pushed their lead to 13 after a fast-break layup by Finister. The Warhawks began chipping away at that double-digit lead as a three by Dylan Diaz sparked a 9-0 run for ULM.
ULM was able to cut the lead down to five points multiple times in the final few minutes, but Louisiana was able to respond each time to hold on for the Sun Belt Conference victory.
BIG NUMBER: 11
Louisiana got things going offensively in the first half by making 6-of-19 from three-point range. The Ragin’ Cajuns were unable to keep up that pace in the second half but still finished the game making 11-of-33 from three-point range.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: DORIAN FINISTER & JOSHUA LEWIS
Finister scored 18 points, hit a trio of three-pointers, pulled down six rebounds, and had four assists. Lewis, meanwhile, led the Cajuns with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and also pulled down nine rebounds.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (4-13, 2-3 SBC) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Troy. Tip is set for noon.