Cajuns Tip Off Exhibition Season Against Choctaws

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team will tip off the 2015-16 season on Monday when it entertains Mississippi College in an exhibition game at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Admission is free and is one of two exhibition games that will be played by the Ragin' Cajuns this season. Louisiana will host Spring Hill College in an exhibition game on Dec. 30 prior to resuming Sun Belt Conference play against Appalachian State on Jan. 2.

The game against Mississippi College (11-13 in 2014-15) is the nightcap of a doubleheader that will feature the Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team hosting LSU-Alexandria in an exhibition game at 5 p.m. Louisiana, ranked No. 12 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Preseason Poll, officially tips off the season on Friday when it hosts Louisiana College at 7 p.m.

Coming off its third post-season appearance in the past four years, Louisiana returns all five starters and nine letterwinners from a 2014-15 team that finished 22-14 and reached the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

Highlighting the returning starters for Louisiana is senior Shawn Long, who was picked as the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year. Long, a 6-11 senior from Morgan City, averaged 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season and was named to the Lou Henson All-America team in addition to being named a first-team All-Sun Belt and All-Louisiana selection.

The three-time All-Sun Belt Conference pick was one of only seven collegians to play for the U.S. men's basketball team that claimed the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. Long enters his final season in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform as the NCAA active leader in double-doubles (52) and total rebounds (1,036). Long is ranked second among active NCAA players in rebound average (10.3) and is seventh in blocked shots (212).

Preseason All-Sun Belt picks Jay Wright and Devonta Walker also return for the Ragin' Cajuns along with returning starters Bryce Washington and Johnathan Stove. Also returning for Louisiana from the 2014-15 squad are seniors Kasey Shepherd, Steven Wronkoski and Tiremone Williams, along with junior Hayward Register and redshirt Scott Plaisance.

Newcomers to the team include senior Matt Marlin, junior college transfers Jay Hedgeman and Tyrone Wooten, transfers Frank Bartley IV and Jacob Broussard, along with high school products Jerekius Davis, Kadevion Evans and Garrett Capps.

Louisiana finished 16th nationally in scoring last season averaging 77.5 points per game under head coach Bob Marlin. The Ragin' Cajuns paced the league in rebounding margin (+6.4), 3-point field goal percentage (.358) and assists (14.7).

Cajuns Tip Off Exhibition Season Against Choctaws

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Players Mentioned

Frank Bartley

Jacob Broussard

Garrett Capps

Jerekius Davis

Jay Hedgeman

Shawn Long

Matt Marlin

Scott Plaisance

Hayward Register

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Bryce Washington

Tiremone Williams

Tyrone Wooten

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski

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