Louisiana forward Jordan Brown was named the Preseason Player of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference back in October. On Friday night in the Cajundome, he made one final attempt to secure the more coveted actual Player of the Year award as he went for 28 points in a 74-64 win over South Alabama. The win secures the #2 seed in next week’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament, and also completed a historic 14-0 home regular season for the Cajuns.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded baskets early in a tightly contested first half of action. Neither team led by more than three points during the entire first half. The biggest difference in the first period was three-point shooting. The Cajuns were 0-8 while the Jaguars went 4-8 to hold a 29-28 lead.
Jordan Brown led the Cajuns with 13 points at the break and his battle with South Alabama center Kevin Samuel was fierce throughout. Owen White had 12 to lead the Jaguars in the first.
After Brown’s solid first half, he came out looking for more. He made Louisiana’s first four field goals of the second half as the Cajuns took the lead early in the final period.
Louisiana got the lead up to five but could not seem to extend it as the Jaguars stayed close. Brown continued to go to work offensively and it seemed South Alabama had no answers for him, even with their 7-footer Kevin Samuel trying to protect the rim. A quick run before the under 8- minute media timeout finally gave the Cajuns some breathing room as they got the lead to nine at 54-45.
Down the stretch, the Cajuns ramped it up defensively and made things difficult on the Jaguars. South Alabama would not get closer than six in the final moments as Louisiana secured the win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jordan Brown
Jordan Brown made one last bid to be the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as he was dominant in this one. He scored 28 points while shooting 13-15 from the field to go along with 11 boards.
BIG NUMBER: 28
Jordan Brown’s 28-point performance paced the Cajuns’ winning effort on Friday night. The Jaguars had no answer for him inside as he went to work with a variety of post moves.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will head to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Pensacola next week. Their first game will be on Saturday.