MBB Game 20 Preview: ULM

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team looks to close out a season-long, five-game homestand on a positive note when it plays host to ULM in a Sun Belt Conference contest at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7:15 p.m., and will follow the women's game between the Ragin' Cajuns and Warhawks that tips off at 5. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on Hot 107.9-FM, ESPN 1420-AM and RaginCajuns.com.

Louisiana (11-8, 7-3 SBC) won its sixth straight game and improved to 9-0 overall this season at the Cajundome after posting a 90-75 win over UT Arlington on Saturday. Shawn Long recorded his 14th double-double of the season for the Ragin' Cajuns – and 66th of his career (the most among active NCAA players) – after scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Long added a season-high six blocked shots for the Ragin' Cajuns and finished 10-for-10 from the free throw line as Louisiana posted season-highs in 3-point field goal (.500) and free throw percentage (85.3).

Bryce Washington added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Cajuns with Jay Wright chipping in with 13 points and Steven Wronkoski a season-high 11.

Long, who moved into fifth-place on the Cajuns' all-time scoring list with 2,059 points, is third in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (18.9) while leading the league in rebounds (12.8) and blocked shots (1.9).

ULM (10-11, 6-4 SBC) wrapped up a four-game homestand on Saturday with a 72-59 victory over Texas State. The Warhawks, who improved to 9-0 at home this season, are led in scoring by senior Majok Deng (19.6) – the SBC's second-leading scorer – Justin Roberson (12.5) and Nick Coppola (10.7).

Louisiana leads the all-time series, 49-23, with the Warhawks claiming four of the last five meetings, including three straight games against the Cajuns for the first time since the 1955-56 season. In the previous meeting, ULM claimed an 81-70 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns as Deng scored a then-career high 30 points.

GAME 19: Louisiana (11-8, 7-3 Sun Belt) vs. ULM (10-11, 6-4 Sun Belt)
February 2, 2016 | 7:15 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,550)
TV/Web: None
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball
Series: UL leads, 49-23 | In Lafayette: UL leads, 30-4 | In Monroe: UL leads, 18-17

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 447-251 (23rd season), Record at UL: 99-85 (6th season)

ULM
Head Coach: Keith Richard (ULM, 1998)
Career Record: 208-232 (15th season), Record at ULM: 58-115 (6th season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana has won its last 12 games at the Cajundome dating back to an 84-69 loss to UT Arlington on Feb. 7, 2015.

• Steven Wronkoski (Hammond, La.) will play in the 122nd game of his career, moving him into a tie for the school-record set by Todd Hill (1990-93), Graylin Warner (1980-84) and Brett Smith (1997-01).

• Shawn Long (Morgan City, La.) will start in his 117th game of his career, tying him with Graylin Warner (1980-84) for the most in school history.

• Head coach Bob Marlin looks to earn his 100th career win at Louisiana. Marlin enters Tuesday's game with a 99-85 record.

THE SERIES
• Louisiana leads the all-time series against ULM, 49-23, including a 30-4 record in games played in Lafayette. The Warhawks have won four of the last five meetings in the series, including three straight victories for the first time since 1955-56. ULM claimed an 81-70 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in the previous meeting between the in-state foes on Dec. 3 in Monroe.

THE OPPONENT
• ULM enters tonight's game riding a four-game win streak that included games at home against Troy, South Alabama, UT Arlington and Texas State. Majok Deng paces the Warhawks in scoring (19.6), rebounds (7.2) and blocks (28) with Justin Roberson (12.5) and Nick Coppola (10.7) next in scoring.

UP NEXT
• The Ragin' Cajuns wrap up their four-game in seven-day span on Thursday when they travel to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN3.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana's 9-0 record at the Cajundome equals the best nine-game start since the 2002-03 team won its first 10 games and finished with a 10-1 record.

• During the Ragin' Cajuns six-game winning streak, they have outscored their opponents by an average of 19.3 points per game.

• During head coach Bob Marlin's tenure as head coach, Louisiana is 37-18 in combined games played in the months of February and March, including a 21-7 record during the last two years.

• The Ragin' Cajuns posted season-highs in 3-point field goal percentage (.500), free throw percentage (.853) and blocked shots (7) in their 90-75 win over UT Arlington on Saturday.

• Louisiana is 19th among Division I schools in scoring offense (82.3) and 21st in rebound margin (+8.5).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics