MBB Game 34 Preview: UC Irvine

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team continues play in the 2016 CollegeInsider.com Tournament when it plays host to Big West Conference opponent UC Irvine on Wednesday at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game between Louisiana (23-10) and Youngstown State (21-12) in the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational.

The men's game between Louisiana (19-14) and UC Irvine (26-9) can be heard in the Lafayette area on Hot 107.9-FM, ESPN 1420-AM and on the internet at RaginCajuns.com. A live video stream will also be available at RaginCajuns.com.

Season ticket holders receive first priority to purchase tickets to Wednesday's doubleheader. They will be able to purchase their regular-season seat locations until 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday (March 22). These tickets may be purchased on-line through Account Manager at RaginCajuns.com, by calling the Cajundome Box Office (337) 265-2357, or visiting the Cajundome Box Office beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday.

Individual tickets for the doubleheader, which will officially go on sale to the public at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, are $30 (Courtside), $15 (First and Second levels), $10 (second level curves) and $7 (student companion). The first 1,000 UL students will be admitted free, courtesy of Coca Cola and Buffalo Wild Wings, by presenting a valid University ID.

Tickets will be available on-line at RaginCajuns.com and at the Cajundome Box Office with extended hours until 5 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information on tickets, contact the Cajundome Box Office at (337) 265-2357.

Louisiana, which is making its second consecutive appearance in the CIT quarterfinals, advanced in the tournament with an 80-72 win at Furman on Saturday in Greenville, S.C. The Ragin' Cajuns scored the game's first nine points and never trailed as Kasey Shepherd scored a team-high 18 points to lead Louisiana.

Devonta Walker posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Jay Wright finished with 17 points and Shawn Long 10.

Long continues to lead the Ragin' Cajuns in scoring (19.2 ppg.) and rebounds (12.1) with Shepherd, who became the 43rd player in school history to record 1,000 points in a career, averaging 11.3 points.

Wright (9.0), Johnathan Stove (8.8), Bryce Washington (8.7), Hayward Register (5.7), Walker (5.3) and Steven Wronkoski (4.8) are next in scoring for Louisiana, which averages 80.0 points per game.

UC Irvine is making its fourth straight postseason appearance after berths in the CIT (2013, 2016), NIT (2014) and NCAA Championships (2015). The Anteaters have won 16 of their last 20 games this season, including an 89-86 overtime victory at North Dakota in the first round on March 16.

Luke Nelson leads the UCI in scoring averaging 13.9 points per game with 7-foot-6 Mamadou Ndiaye averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Alex Young averages 10.2 points and 4.5 assists for the Anteaters with Mike Best averaging 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.

GAME 34: Louisiana (19-14) vs. UC Irvine (26-9)
March 23, 2016 | 7:15 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,550)
TV/Web: CollegeInsider.com
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420-AM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball; @ULRaginCajuns
Series: UL leads, 1-0
In Lafayette: First meeting | In Irvine: Never met | In Reno: UL leads, 1-0

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 455-257 (23rd season), Record at UL: 107-91 (6th season)

UC IRVINE
Head Coach: Russell Turner (Hampden-Sydney, 1992)
Career Record: 116-89 (6th season), Record at UCI: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana looks to reach the semifinals in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament for the first time ever after falling to eventual champion Evansville in last season's tournament.

• The Ragin' Cajuns are making their fourth appearance in the postseason (2012 - CIT; 2014 - NCAA; 2015 - CIT) in the past five seasons.

• With 74 career double-doubles, Shawn Long is tied with Keith Lee (Memphis State) and David Robinson (Navy) for 12th-place on the NCAA all-time list.

• Long is the NCAA active leader in both double-doubles (74) and rebounds (1,436), is second among active Division I players in points scored (2,332) and field goals made (867), third in field goal attempts (1,720) and fifth in rebound average (10.7).

• Louisiana leads the Sun Belt Conference and is 11th among NCAA Division I schools in rebound margin (+8.3).

• With four rebounds against Furman, Shawn Long became the third player in school history, and first since Roy Ebron (411, 1971-72) to grab 400 rebounds in a single-season.

QUICK HITS
• The Cajuns are 0-5 this season in games decided by five points or less.

• Louisiana is 4-2 all-time in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

• Shawn Long is currently fourth in the nation in rebounds per game (12.1) and is tied for sixth in double-doubles (22).

• The Ragin' Cajuns are 12-2 this season when holding opponents below 70 points and are 0-7 when held below 70 points.

• Louisiana has used 14 different starting lineups this season.

THE SERIES
• The meeting between Louisiana and UC Irvine is the second between the schools with UL holding a 1-0 lead. The teams met in the first round of the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nev., with the Cajuns claiming an 81-67 victory on Dec. 20, 1982.

WHAT'S ON TAP
• The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, which is scheduled for Sunday with opponent and location to be announced. The Ragin' Cajuns would play at the Cajundome should they advance with tipoff scheduled for either 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. The CIT semifinals and championship game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

CIT QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
Wednesday, March 23rd
Grand Canyon (27-6) at Coastal Carolina (20-11), 6 p.m.
Ball State (21-13) at Columbia (22-10), 6 p.m.
UC Irvine (26-9) at Louisiana (19-14), 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 24th
UT Arlington (23-13) at NJIT (19-14), 6:30 p.m.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Hayward Register

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski

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