MBB Game 9 Preview: vs. Loyola

LAFAYETTE – Coming off its first 100-point game on the road in nearly 14 years, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team returns to the Cajundome on Wednesday when it takes a break from finals to face Loyola of New Orleans in a non-conference game.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and will be streamed live on the Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network. The game will also be carried in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9-FM and ESPN 1420-AM, along worldwide on the ESPN 1420 app.

All fans who attend the game between Louisiana (6-2) and Loyola (5-4) are encouraged to bring a toy to donate for Toys for Tots. Everyone who donates an item will be entered into a prize drawing courtesy of the Ragin' Cajuns Store.

The Ragin' Cajuns, who have won three straight games and six of their last seven, posted a 105-80 win at Nicholls on Friday. The 105 points marked the first time the Ragin' Cajuns scored 100 or more points in a road game since a 110-102 win at Western Kentucky on Jan. 29, 2004.

Johnathan Stove has averaged a team-best 16.7 points per game in three games this season for Louisiana, including a career-high 23 at Nicholls. Frank Bartley, who is eighth in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring, averages 15.9 for the Ragin' Cajuns with JaKeenan Gant (15.5) and Justin Miller (10.4) all averaging in double-figures.

Bryce Washington, who is 19th nationally in rebounds per game (10.3), averages 9.9 points per game for the Ragin' Cajuns with Marcus Stroman ranked second in the SBC, and 28th nationally, with 6.1 assists per game.

GAME 9: Louisiana (6-2) vs. Loyola-New Orleans (5-4)
Date / Time: December 6, 2017 / 7 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
Radio: KHXT FM 107.9 / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)

Video Stream (FREE): RaginCajuns.com
Talent: Dan McDonald (pxp)

Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB
Series History: Tied, 16-16
At Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 7-6
At New Orleans: Loyola leads, 7-2
At Unknown: Louisiana leads, 7-3
Streak: Louisiana +4

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 134-106 (eighth season), Career Record: 482-272 (25th season)

LOYOLA
Head Coach: Stacy Hollowell (St. Edward's, 2001)
Record at Loyola: 55-40 (fourth season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Wednesday's game against Loyola is the 33rd official meeting and just the fifth between the schools since the 1957-58 season.
• Louisiana has won its last 26 regular-season, non-conference games at home dating back to Dec. 18, 2012 (vs. Robert Morris).
• With 1,045 points scored in his career, Bryce Washington passed Lonnie Thomas (1,043 points, 1998-01) for 40th place in school history with 10 points at Nicholls.
• Washington enters tonight's game 10 points shy of tying Marcus Stokes (1988-92) for 39th place in career scoring and Blane Harmon (1998-01) for 38th place.
• With 828 career rebounds, Washington is 15 boards shy of passing Reginald Poole (1995-97) into fifth-place on the Ragin' Cajuns career list.
• Johnathan Stove, who scored a career-high 23 points at Nicholls, is 162 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point mark.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana has surpassed the 100-point mark three times in 2017-18 - its best total since recording four 100-point games during the 2013-14 season.
• Louisiana has averaged 105.7 points in its three home games this season at the Cajundome.
• The Ragin' Cajuns 105 points at Nicholls was the first 100-point game on the road for Louisiana since Jan. 29, 2004 at Western Kentucky (W, 110-102).
• Malik Marquetti's 13 points and 11 rebounds at Nicholls marked his first career double-double.
• The Cajuns have won 12 straight games against in-state schools since a 91-79 loss at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 12, 2015.
• Louisiana is 7-2 overall in games in the month of December during the past two seasons.
• Louisiana has won 20 or more games in three of the past four seasons.
• Louisiana's 54 free throw attempts at Nicholls are the second-most by a Division I team this season (56, Wagner vs. Staten Island, Nov. 21).
• The Ragin' Cajuns 36 made free throws at Nicholls are the fifth-most in an NCAA Division I game this season (44, Wagner vs. Staten Island, Nov. 21).

SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
• NAIA member Loyola has opened the season with a 5-4 record and 2-0 mark in Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) play.
• Tonight's game counts as an exhibition for the Wolf Pack, who have dropped exhibition games to Division I opponents Tulane (Nov. 2) and Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 28).
• Nick Parker has averaged 18.5 points per game to lead Loyola with Terry Smith, Jr. (11.6), Tre'Von Jasmine (11.0) and Ethan Turner (10.8) all averaging in double figures.

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will wrap up finals this week before resuming play on Tuesday (Dec. 12) against in-state rival Louisiana Tech in a 6:30 p.m. contest at the Thomas Assembly Center.
• The Cajuns will wrap up their six-game stint against in-state opponents with games at home against defending Southland Conference Tournament champion New Orleans (Dec. 16) and Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 19).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Frank Bartley

JaKeenan Gant

Malik Marquetti

Justin Miller

Johnathan Stove

Marcus Stroman

Bryce Washington

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