MBB Game 29 Preview: Georgia Southern

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team will wrap up the regular-season on Saturday when it plays host to Georgia Southern in a Sun Belt Conference contest at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. and will follow the women's game between Louisiana and Georgia Southern 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.

Fans who attend Saturday afternoon's baseball game between Louisiana and Sacred Heart can present their ticket stub at the Cajundome and a receive $5 reserved ticket. Fans attending Saturday's basketball game can also sign up for the opportunity to win at Dodge Charger, courtesy of Acadiana Dodge, by making a halfcourt shot.

Prior to the game, Louisiana (15-13, 11-9 SBC) will honor its six-man senior class – Shawn Long, Matt Marlin, Kasey Shepherd, Devonta Walker, Tiremone Williams and Steven Wronkoski).

A win by Louisiana would clinch a first-round bye and no worse than the No. 4 seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament at New Orleans' Lakefront Arena. The Ragin' Cajuns can claim the No. 3 seed with a victory over Georgia Southern (14-15, 10-9 SBC) and a loss by UT Arlington against Troy.

Louisiana dropped a 72-69 decision to Georgia State on Thursday despite a 21-point, 10-rebound effort from Bryce Washington. Jay Wright returned to the lineup to score a season-high 16 points while Long added 11 and Wronkoski 10.

Long, who is second in the nation in rebounds per game (13.0), paces the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (19.1), rebounds and blocked shots (1.9). Shepherd averages 10.2 points per game for the Ragin' Cajuns with Wright (9.1), Johnathan Stove (8.9) and Washington (8.6) next in the scoring column.

Georgia Southern fell at ULM on Thursday, 83-76, despite tying a season-high with 16 3-pointers in the game. Mike Hughes scored 24 points to lead the Eagles with freshman Tookie Brown adding 17.

Brown averages 17.6 points to lead Georgia Southern in scoring with Hughes (14.8) and freshman Ike Smith (11.8) following. Coye Simmons leads the Eagles with 5.5 rebounds per game.

GAME 29: Louisiana (15-13, 11-8 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia Southern (14-15, 10-9 Sun Belt)
March 5, 2016 | 7:15 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,550)
TV/Web: None
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball; @ULRaginCajuns
Series: UL leads, 4-2 | In Lafayette: UL leads, 3-1 | In Statesboro: Tied, 1-1

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 451-255 (23rd season), Record at UL: 103-90 (6th season)

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Head Coach: Mark Byington (UNC Wilmington, 1998)
Career Record: 58-47 (4th season), Record at GS: 51-43 (3rd season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana will honor its six-man senior class (Shawn Long, Matt Marlin, Kasey Shepherd, Devonta Walker, Tiremone Williams and Steven Wronkoski) in a pre-game ceremony.

• The Ragin' Cajuns will clinch the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a win. A UL win and loss by UT Arlington would give the Ragin' Cajuns the No. 3 seed.

• Shawn Long (73 career double-doubles) is one shy of tying Keith Lee (Memphis State) and David Robinson (Navy) for 12th-place on the NCAA's all-time list.

• Long is the NCAA active leader in both double-doubles (73) and rebounds (1,401), is second in rebound average (10.9) and is third in points scored (2,235).

THE SERIES
• Today's meeting is the seventh all-time between the schools with Louisiana holding a 4-2 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last three meetings in Lafayette, including a 68-58 victory in last year's game at the Cajundome.

• Louisiana claimed the earlier meeting this season, 74-65, to earn its first-ever win in Statesboro.

THE OPPONENT
• Georgia Southern has won 10 of its last 16 games and is 3-2 in its last five games after an 83-76 loss at ULM on Thursday. The Eagles are led in scoring by freshman Tookie Brown, who is fourth in the Sun Belt Conference (17.6). Freshman Ike Smith averages 11.8 points per game, marking the tandem as the third-highest freshman scoring duo in the nation.

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will compete in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament that begins on Thursday at New Orleans' Lakefront Arena. The Ragin' Cajuns opponent, date and time will be announced later tonight.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana looks to avoid its first three-game losing streak at home since dropping the final two games of the 2008-09 season (Troy/FIU) and the 2009-10 season-opener against Southern Miss.

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

• With his next appearance, Kasey Shepherd will move into a tie for ninth-place on the Ragin' Cajuns all-time list for games played (118).

• Shawn Long needs four points to pass Western Kentucky's Courtney Lee (2,238) for third-place on the Sun Belt Conference's all-time scoring list. Long needs three blocks to pass Alan Ogg of UAB (266) for second-place in league history.

• The Ragin' Cajuns are 11-2 this season when holding opponents below 70 points and are 0-6 when held below 70 points.

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Matt Marlin

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Bryce Washington

Tiremone Williams

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski

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