PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns stormed back from a 17-point deficit but still fell short with a 84-73 loss to Georgia State in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals on Sunday evening at the Pensacola Bay Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Georgia State jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game and then after a three-pointer by Ryan Boyce, the Panthers held a 11-3 lead.
Georgia State would push that lead up to 11 points after Eliel Nsosene’s hook jumper with 10:02 left in the first half. The Panthers kept up the pace and held a 14-point lead after Corey Allen hit a three-pointer with 6:59 left in the first half.
The Ragin’ Cajuns were unable to cut into that lead and found themselves trailing by 17 points entering halftime.
In the first half, the Panthers shot 41.9 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and scored 22 points in the paint. The Ragin’ Cajuns also had 10 tunrovers in the half.
Louisiana came out and played inspired in the second half.
Cedric Russell got things going by hitting a three-pointer and then hitting a pair of free throws. That ignited a 13-2 run for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Louisiana kept eating away at Georgia State’s deficit. Russell made a jumper to make it 69-66 and then moments later Dou Gueye hit a three-pointer that tied the game with 7:28 left in the game.
Georgia State made two free throws to retake the lead but Gueye would tie the game with a layup moments later.
Georgia State would respond by closing out the game on a 13-2 run in the last 6:13 of the game to lock up a spot in the SBC Tournament Championship Game on Monday.
BIG NUMBER: 17
That was the massive deficit the Ragin’ Cajuns faced at halftime of Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Louisiana stormed back in the second half and even tied the game before falling short.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mylik Wilson
With Cedric Russell and Theo Akwuba both in foul trouble, Wilson stepped up and helped spark the second-half comeback. Wilson finished the night with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting with six assists and six rebounds.
NEXT UP: The 2020-21 season comes to an end for the Ragin’ Cajuns.