University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Players Mentioned
MBB Game 14 Preview: at Appalachian State
1/4/2015 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Monday, Jan. 5 • 6:30 p.m. (CST) • Holmes Center (8,325)
Game Notes: Louisiana | Appalachian State
Live Stats
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM Video: AppStateSports.com
Rosters: Louisiana | Appalachian State
Statistics: Louisiana | Appalachian State
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @Cajunbasketball
Opponents Twitter: @AppStateBball
THE COACHES
Louisiana: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 422-234 (22nd season) Record at Louisiana: 74-68 (5th season)
Appalachian State: Jim Fox (SUNY Geneso, 1995)
Career Record: 4-6 (1st season) Record at Appalachian State: Same
FOR STARTERS
Louisiana will go for its first 3-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play since the 2007-08 season on Monday when it travels to first-year SBC foe Appalachian State on Monday. It is the first meeting between the teams since the 1990 season and third overall.
THE LAST TIME OUT
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns shot 67.7 percent in the second half and exploded for 52 points in running past Troy, 91-64, on Saturday night at the Cajundome.
The Cajun starting five carried the bulk of the load, combining for 81 of the team's 91 points; however, it was a late run in the first half that carried over into the second half where UL hit 14 of their first 16 shots to blow the game open.
Jay Wright pumped in 13 of his career-high 20 points in the second half, hitting three straight threes as part of a 20-5 run midway through the half for the Cajuns. He was one of four players to reach double figures for the Cajuns, followed by 19 points and three triples from guard Kasey Shepherd.
Shawn Long finished with 18 points and six rebounds, and Brian Williams turned in 15 points and three blocks. Devonta Walker was the only Cajun starter not to reach double figures, but still hit four of his six shots for nine points, along with five rebounds, four assists and no turnovers.
It was the 11th straight home win for Louisiana dating back to last season and the sixth win in six tries at the Cajundome this year. The Trojans were led by freshman guard Wesley Person, who scored a game-high 28 points, including all three three-point baskets for Troy.
UP NEXTAnother short turnaround awaits the Cajuns as they will come back to the Cajundome for a Jan. 8 meeting with league favorite and defending regular-season champion Georgia State. UL will then get a week off before traveling to Georgia Southern on Jan. 15 for its first meeting with the Eagles as part of the Sun Belt Conference.
• Head coach Bob Marlin needs just one more win to reach 300 career wins at the Division I level.
• With a win over Appalachian State the Ragin' Cajuns would move to 3-0 in SBC play for the first time since the 2007-08 season. That team actually won its first four league games and finished 11-7 in conference play, claiming the SBC West Division title.
• The Ragin' Cajuns hit 67.7 percent (21 for 31) from the field in the second half vs Troy on Saturday. it is the highest field-goal percentage in a half for UL with at least 30 FG attempts since hitting 68.8 percent (22 for 32) in the second half against New Orleans on December 13, 2001.
• Shawn Long's 23 points and Kasey Shepherd's 20 against UALR gave UL a pair of 20-point scorers for the first time in the same game this year.
• Devonta Walker's 19 rebounds at Northwestern State is the second-most by a Sun Belt player in a single game this season and is the most by a Cajun since Long had 19 last year against Jackson State.
• UL's +10 turnover margin against Troy was its best turnover margin of the season.
#GeauxCajuns
