The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team began 2021 with a win.
Louisiana defeated Texas State 83-77 in overtime to open up Sun Belt Conference competition.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are now 7-1 for the season.
How It Happened:
The Bobcats opened up the scoring with a layup by Shelby Adams. The Ragin’ Cajuns first points came at the free throw line from Jacobi Gordon.
Texas State started opening their lead after another layup by Adams. The Bobcats led 17-10 with 11:02 remaining in the first half.
Each team record five turnovers in the first nine minutes of action.
The Ragin’ Cajuns responded with two 3-pointers by Cedric Russell and Devin Butts to cut the deficit to 17-16.
Texas State went on a 6-0 run, but Butts hit a corner three for the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Bobcats led 23-19 with 7:38 remaining in the first half.
Louisiana cut the deficit to two points with a baseline jumper from Gordon, but Texas State maintained their lead going into a timeout at the 3:18 mark. The Bobcats led 31-27.
Butts hit his fourth 3-pointer of the half with 46 seconds left in the half. Louisiana trailed 36-33 at halftime.
The Ragin’ Cajuns recorded 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Texas State’s Isiah Small led the team with 16 points in the first half.
The Bobcats outscored Louisiana in the paint 22-8.
Russell opened the second half for the Ragin’ Cajuns with jumper from the left wing. Louisiana then tied the game after a technical foul called on Texas State.
Mylik Wilson gave Louisiana a 38-36 lead with 18:33 remaining. Theo Akwuba got in on the scoring action with a hook shot. Louisiana used a 7-0 run out of the halftime break to lead 40-36 with 17:54 left in the game.
Texas State broke the scoring drought for the Bobcats after Louisiana’s Wilson was called for a technical foul. The Bobcats made two free throws and Texas State trailed 40-38 with 17:11 remaining.
The Bobcats regained the lead after a layup by Nighael Caeser and a jumper from Adams. Texas State led 44-40 with 15:40 left.
Akwuba stopped the 8-0 run by the Bobcats with another hook shot. Wilson’s second chance layup gave Louisiana a 46-44 lead.
Texas State went on a 13-1 run to lead 57-47 with 9:38 remaining. Butts cut the deficit to seven with another 3-pointer, his fifth of the night.
The Bobcats led 59-51 with 7:27 remaining in the game after Alonzo Sule’s layup.
Louisiana’s Ty Harper made a wing three to bring the Ragin’ Cajuns within six points with 5:56 left. Butts then converted an and-one as Louisiana only trailed 63-60. Wilson followed up Butts’ and-one with one of his own. The Ragin’ Cajuns and Bobcats were tied at 63 with 4:45 remaining.
The Louisiana run continued as Harper scored a fast break layup after an Akwuba block on the other end. The Ragin’ Cajuns 11-0 run gave them a 65-63 lead with 4:15 left.
The Bobcats tied the game at 65 with an Adams turn-around jumper.
Wilson’s layup put the Ragin’ Cajuns back on top, but for long as Texas State tied the game once again at 67 with 2:15 left. Awkuba went to the line with 1:47 remaining and made one of two free throws as Louisiana led 68-67.
Sule gave Texas State a 69-68 lead until Louisiana’s Wilson made a layup for his 19th point in the game. The Ragin’ Cajuns led 70-69 with 56.3 seconds left.
Texas State missed a corner 3-pointer with 27 seconds left and Russell made two free throws to give Louisiana a three-point lead.
Texas State’s Adams hit a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime tied at 72.
Butts opened the overtime period with a 3-pointer form the right wing. Louisiana led 79-76 with 2:34 left in overtime.
The Ragin’ Cajuns led 83-77 with 20.5 seconds left in the game following Russell’s two made free throws.
Louisiana opened Sun Belt Conference play with a 83-77 win over the Bobcats.
Big Number: 30
Louisiana had 30 points off the bench. Devin Butts had 22 for the Ragin’ Cajuns and six made 3-pointers. Harper contributed five points in the second half to help Louisiana regain a lead.
Player of the Game: Mylik Wilson
Wilson was a steady hand for the Ragin’ Cajuns throughout the contest. Wilson recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. He shot 9-for-14 from the field.
Up Next: At home against Texas State, Saturday Jan. 2; Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.