University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Strong Second Half Leads Cajuns Past Eurocolgio Casvi, 94-67
8/15/2013 4:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Contact: Nick Ross
Spain Central
MADRID, Spain – The Ragin' Cajuns basketball team continued their winning ways in the third game of the Spain tour, defeating Eurocolgio Casvi, 94-67 on Thursday evening in Madrid, Spain.
Elfrid Payton led the charge for the Cajuns with his second double-double of the trip, posting 21 points with 10 rebounds. His 21 points are the most by any player in the on the trip thus far.
Casvi opened the game with a few clutch shots, including a three-pointer, in the first five minutes to give them their only lead of the game. The Cajuns came back quick and took a 20-13 lead by the end of the first quarter.
"We started the game off well on both sides of the ball," head coach Bob Marlin said after the game. "We had too many turnovers and some calls went against us, some travelling calls that we're not used to at home. It was a good road test and everybody contributed to the win."
The Cajuns held of a late surge from Casvi in the second half, bringing them within two points, before pulling away and going into the locker rooms with a 40-31 lead.
They surged once more in the first three minutes of the second half, closing the Cajuns' lead to 43-40 before the Cajuns hit the gas and took over.
"In the second half they came out and hit their first couple of baskets and we called time out when it was 43-40 and ran a great streak after and put them away." Marlin said of the start of the second half. "We just told them that we weren't going to let them take the lead. We wanted to stop the bleeding here and attack them on offense."
Shawn Long saw limited action in the second and third quarter after three quick fouls in the first quarter put him in foul trouble. He came back and scored all 12 of his points in the second half, before fouling out with four minutes remaining in the game.
"Shawn Long was in foul trouble and came out early. I thought J.J. Davenport did a good job for us inside and rebounding the ball." Marlin said of two of his post players. "Shawn came back in the game late in the third quarter and scored five possessions in a row and we were able to get the ball to the basket against their pressure and rebound the ball well."
J.J. Davenport controlled the post in Longs absence, scoring eight points and picking up nine rebounds. Bryant Mbamalu was third on the team in rebounds, picking up seven, while adding six assists.
Steven Wronkoski continued his solid play off the bench, adding ten points of his own tonight and Elridge Moore was second on the team with 13 points.
The Cajuns will play Erocolgio Casvi again Saturday evening in their final game of the tour, before returning back to Louisiana on Sunday. They will spend tomorrow sightseeing in the morning before having free time to explore Madrid and do what they please during the evening.
