MBB Game Preview 28: Georgia State

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team tips off its final week of the regular season on Thursday when it entertains defending Sun Belt Conference champion Georgia State in the annual "White Out" Game at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. and will follow the women's game between Louisiana and Georgia State that begins at 5. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9-FM, ESPN 1420 AM and on the internet at RaginCajuns.com. All fans attending Thursday's game are encouraged to wear white.

Currently tied for third-place in the Sun Belt Conference standings, Louisiana (15-12, 11-7 SBC) looks to close out the regular-season with a pair of wins before next week's SBC Tournament at New Orleans' Lakefront Arena. The Ragin' Cajuns dropped an 83-70 decision at South Alabama in their last game on Saturday despite 25 points and 13 rebounds from senior Shawn Long.

Long, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, leads the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (19.4), rebounds (13.2) and blocked shots (1.9) while recording 21 double-doubles on the season. Long enters Thursday's game against Georgia State (15-12, 8-10 SBC) with 73 career double-doubles, one shy of tying former Memphis State star Keith Lee and Navy's David Robinson for 12th place on the NCAA all-time list.

Kasey Shepherd averages 10.4 points off the bench for the Ragin' Cajuns with Johnathan Stove averaging 9.0 points. Jay Wright (8.9), Bryce Washington (8.1), Hayward Register (6.2), Devonta Walker (4.7) and Steven Wronkoski (4.6) are next in scoring for Louisiana, which leads the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense (79.7) and rebounding margin (+7.6).

GAME 28: Louisiana (15-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (15-12, 8-10 Sun Belt)
March 3, 2016 | 7:15 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,550)
TV/Web: None
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball; @ULRaginCajuns
Series: GSU leads, 6-5 | In Lafayette: UL leads, 3-1 | In Atlanta: GSU leads, 4-1

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 451-254 (23rd season), Record at UL: 103-89 (6th season)

GEORGIA STATE
Head Coach: Ron Hunter (Miami [Ohio], 1986)
Career Record: 376-278 (22nd season), Record at GSU: 102-59 (5th season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana's 11 wins in Sun Belt Conference play is tied for the sixth-best total in school history. The Ragin' Cajuns won a school-record 13 SBC games three times in school history (1999-00, 1993-94, 2014-15).

• Shawn Long has recorded nine games this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. Long is tied for fourth nationally (Chris Horton - Austin Peay; Ben Simmons - LSU) with 21 double-doubles on the season.

• Long's 357 rebounds in 2015-16 are a career-high and is currently tied with Roy Ebron (1972-73) for the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.

THE SERIES
• Tonight's meeting against Georgia State will be the 12th between the schools with the Panthers holding a 6-5 lead. Louisiana has won three of four meetings between the schools in Lafayette and picked up its first-ever win (in five meetings) in Atlanta earlier this season in an 87-54 victory.

• Louisiana (2014) and Georgia State (2015) have represented the Sun Belt Conference in the last two NCAA Men's Basketball Championships.

THE OPPONENT
• Georgia State (15-12, 8-10 SBC) has dropped eight of its last 12 games since falling to Louisiana, 87-54, on Jan. 16 in Atlanta. The Panthers have won two of their last three contests, earning victories over Arkansas State and Appalachian State. Indiana transfer Jeremy Hollowell leads GSU in scoring (14.9) and is followed by Louisville transfer Kevin Ware (12.2).

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will wrap up the regular season on Saturday (March 5) against Georgia Southern in the Cajundome. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. Louisiana's six-man senior class will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.

QUICK HITS
• Shawn Long is currently 14th in NCAA history in double-doubles with 73. He is one shy of tying David Robinson (Navy) and Keith Lee (Memphis State) for 12th place.

• Louisiana is 11-2 overall this season when holding its opponent to under 70 points per game.

• Long's 29-point, 20-rebound contest was his second career 20-20 game. Long scored 22 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds against South Alabama (1/17/15) last season at the Cajundome.

• Louisiana rallied from its largest deficit of the year (12 points) in claiming a 73-63 win at Troy on Thursday. The Ragin' Cajuns trailed 39-27 at halftime and outscored the Trojans, 46-24, in the second half.

• Louisiana's 11 fastbreak points scored against South Alabama marked the first game the Ragin' Cajuns scored 10 or more points since facing Appalachian State (10 FB points on Jan. 2).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Hayward Register

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski

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