LAFAYETTE — The University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns shot nearly 70 percent from three-point range, and managed to hold on for a three-point win over visiting Arkansas State on Saturday inside the Cajundome.
The win gives the Ragin’ Cajuns their first Sun Belt Conference series sweep of the season.
How It Happened:
Dou Gueye got things going for the Ragin’ Cajuns with a short jumper in the paint. Louisiana would add a jumper by Mylik Wilson and then a three-pointer by Cedric Russell.
Louisiana held a 7-0 lead but Gueye picked up his second personal foul with 16:53 in the half.
Even with Gueye on the bench, the Ragin’ Cajuns kept up the fast pace and did so with the three ball.
Jacobi Gordon came off the bench and drained a trio of three-pointers in a span of 2:10. Devin Butts also came off the bench and hit a three and with 12:27 left in the half, the Ragin’ Cajuns held a 23-13 lead over the Red Wolves.
Louisiana would maintain a double-digit lead until Arkansas State went on a 10-0 run.
With 1:50 left in the half, the Cajuns’ lead had been trimmed down to 36-27.
Louisiana responded as Theo Akwuba made a hookshot and Ty Harper hit a three-pointer. At the break, the Ragin’ Cajuns led 41-29.
The Ragin’ Cajuns started off the second half strong with a three-pointer by Russell and later extended the lead to 20 points with a layup by Gueye.
Louisiana maintained that double-digit lead for most of the half but Arkansas State kept hanging around.
Tim Holland Jr.’s layup with 4:13 left made it an eight-point game, and then cut the lead to six after a dunk by Norchad Omier. With three minutes left in the game, the Cajuns’ lead was down to a mere six points.
Arkansas State then made a single-possession game after Christan Willis drained a three-pointer.
After Akwuba hit one of two from the free throw line, Louisiana led Arkansas State 74-70 with 1:26 left. The Red Wolves made it a two-point game with a pair of free throws by Marquis Eaton.
Arkansas State’s Caleb London was called for fouling Harper, and the Cajun guard made both of the attempts. The Red Wolves quickly scored on a Malcolm Farrington and took a timeout.
Harper was fouled again and made one of two and the Red Wolves desperation nearly full-court heave was no good.
Big Number: 68.8
The Ragin’ Cajuns lit it up beyond the arc in Saturday’s game making 11-of-16 three-point shots for a 68.8 percent. Both Cedric Russell and Jacobi Gordon hit four three-pointers in the contest.
Players of the Game: Cedric Russell & Jacobi Gordon
Russell had a game-high 14 points to go along with six assists and only one turnover. Gordon meanwhile came off the bench to score 14 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, and 4-for-4 from three-point range.
Up Next: UL (11-4, 5-3 SBC) will travel to take on Texas State in a two-game series next weekend. Both games on Friday and Saturday will tip at 4 p.m.