UL Closes Out Non-Conference Play, Hosts UCF Wednesday

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011
Location: Lafayette, La
Opponent: UCF (8-2)
Site: Cajundome (11,550)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KHXT) – Jay Walker, play-by-play
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

LOUISIANA
11-12 Record____________________     5-8
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________       0-0
Last Game______________________     Dec. 17, 2011
                                                                            at Robert Morris L, 64-72
Head Coach____________________      Bob Marlin
   UL Record____________________      19-23 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________     367-189 (19^th Season)
   Marlin vs. UCF_________________       2-2
Web Site_______________________     www.RaginCajuns.com

UCF
11-12 Record____________________     8-2
11-12 C-USA Record______________      0-0
Last Game______________________     Dec. 17, 2011
                                                                            vs. Old Dominion W, 61-53
Head Coach____________________      Donnie Jones
   UCF Record___________________     29-14 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________     84-55 (5^th Season)
   Jones vs. UL__________________      1-0
Web Site_______________________     www.UCFKnights.com

Game Night Story Lines
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team wraps up non-conference play on Wednesday hosting UCF at the Cajundome. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
>>> It's the first meeting at the Cajundome with the Knights since Feb. 6, 1992 back when the two programs were Sun Belt Conference foes.
>>> Following the UCF game, the Cajuns are off for nine days for the Christmas holiday and return to action on New Year's Eve hosting Florida Atlantic at the Cajundome. The FAU contest marks the first of 16 straight SBC games to close out the 2011-12 season.
>>> Louisiana seeks to end a two-game losing streak. The Cajuns are coming off back-to-back road losses at Ole Miss (L, 54-66) and Robert Morris (L, 64-72).
>>> Louisiana has won three straight at home and is 4-1 at the Cajundome this season. The Cajuns have won by 20-plus points in each of the last three Cajundome games.
>>> The Cajuns have shot the ball well this season, shooting 40 percent or higher in nine of 13 contests. Where the Cajuns have struggled is turnovers, as the squad has committed 16-plus turnovers eight times.
>>> The Cajuns are shooting 50.9 percent (144-of-283) at home this season. Louisiana has shot above 50 percent each game during the current three-game win streak at the Cajundome and held each opponent during the streak below 40 percent.
>>> The magic number for UL so far this year is 70. When scoring above 70 the Cajuns are 5-1. When scoring below 70 the squad is 0-7.
>>> All five of the Ragin' Cajuns wins this season have come when holding the opposition below 40 percent shooting (5-1 record).
>>> Six Cajuns are averaging at least one assist per game, led by Raymone Andrews (2.8 pag) and Elfrid Payton (2.8 apg).

NO PLACE LIKE THE 'DOME
>>> Last season the Ragin' Cajuns posted a 10-4 record in the Cajundome – the 16^th consecutive season with a .500 mark or better.
>>> In 24 of the previous 26 seasons, the Cajuns have recorded a winning record.
>>> Since the turn of the century, UL's on-court record at the 'Dome is 119-40 (.748).
>>> The Cajuns are 14-5 in the Cajundome under the direction of Bob Marlin.
>>> Louisiana has turned in a 24-9 record at the Cajundome since the 2009-10 season which includes an impressive 16-1 mark against Sun Belt opponents.

LAST TIME VS. UCF (Dec. 15, 2010 in Orlando – UCF won 79-58)
>>> UCF jumped out to a 20-3 lead early in the contest but UL went on a 24-10 run to pull to within three points late in the first half. UCF would take a 35-28 lead into the break as UL failed to hit a field goal for the final three minutes of the half.
>>> The Cajuns would get no closer than six points in the second half as UCF went on a 19-4 run to take a 58-37 with 10:41 remaining in the contest.
>>> UCF outscored the Cajuns 44-30 in the second half.

LAST TIME VS. UCF AT CAJUNDOME (Feb. 6, 1992 – UL won 77-72)
>>> UL was led by Byron Starks' 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Tony Moore and Todd Hill each added 12 points.
>>> UCF tied the game early in the second half when Sinua Phillips layed it on off a steal, knotting the score at 36-all. Louisiana responded with an 18-7 run to take its largest lead of the game, 54-43, with 10:10 remaining.
>>> The Knights wouldn't get any closer than five points at any point of the second half.

BROWN ON A ROLL
>>> Josh Brown returned from a head injury suffered vs. Cal State Fullerton on Monday, Nov. 28 at Kent State and is beginning to find his scoring touch.
>>> The senior guard has reached double figures in points in four straight games dating back to Saturday, Dec. 3 at Lamar and in five of the past six games since returning from the injury.
>>> Brown is averaging 11.0 points per game since the calendar turned to December.

McCLELLAN STEPS UP IN STARTER'S ROLE
>>> Darshawn McClellan, was inserted into the starting lineup at Kent State in place of J.J. Thomas who missed the game with a knee injury.
>>> McClellan responded well in his first start in a Cajuns uniform, registering a season-high 17 points. He also added three 3-point field goals, five assists and seven rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
>>> The team's leading scorer off the bench before assuming a starter's role six games ago, McClellan is averaging 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a starter.

A SPECIAL WEAPON
>>> The Cajuns bench has outscored the opponents bench in all but three games this season.
>>> Through 13 games, the UL bench is averaging 28.3 points per game.
>>> UL's bench has reached 40 points three times (at San Francisco, vs. Nicholls State, vs. Dillard). The bench provided a season-high 52 points in the 102-38 win over Dillard.
>>> On average, the Cajuns bench is outscoring the opposition's bench 28.3 to 24.4.

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
>>> Freshman Elfrid Payton appeared on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays following Wednesday night's game at Ole Miss. Payton was the No. 3 play of the day.
>>> Payton was selected for a play in which he spun through the line and with his back facing the goal flipped the basketball over this head and into the hoop.

SERIES HISTORY (Louisiana leads 8-2, overall; Louisiana leads 4-0 in Cajundome)
>>> Louisiana holds an 8-2 lead all-time series lead over UCF, but the Knights have won the last two meetings (both in Orlando).
>>> Cajuns won first eight meetings between the two schools starting with first series meeting on Dec. 28, 1984. UCF's first series victory came on Dec. 11, 2007 at UCF Arena (65-52).
>>> First meeting at the Cajundome since Feb. 6, 1992 (UL won 77-72). That contest marked the final meeting as Sun Belt Conference foes.
>>> Teams meet for the second straight season. Last season, UL visited Orlando on Dec. 15, 2010 and fell to UCF 79-58.
>>> Cajuns and Knights were conference foes in the American South Conference (1990-91) and Sun Belt Conference (1991-92).
>>> Louisiana is 4-0 all-time at the Cajundome vs. UCF with three of four wins by double figures.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns take nine days off for Christmas break, then return to action on New Year's Eve hosting Florida Atlantic at the Cajundome in the 2011-12 Sun Belt opener.
>>> It's a matchup of the two Sun Belt Conference division champions from the 2010-11 season (FAU won SBC East/UL won SBC West).
>>> Louisiana has won 16 of its past 17 Sun Belt games at the Cajundome dating back to the 2009-10 season (9-0 in 2009-10 & 7-1 in 2010-11).

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

UL Closes Out Non-Conference Play, Hosts UCF Wednesday

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