Cajuns Return Home for Sun Belt Bout with Texas State

Game 13

Louisiana (8-4) vs Texas State (4-9)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Cajundome
Radio: ESPN 1420 (Steve Peloquin)
TV: None
Live Video Stream/Stats: www.RaginCajuns.com
Series: Texas State leads 3-2.
Last Meeting: Louisiana 59, Texas State 39 - Nov. 12, 2006 at Austin, Texas
Louisiana season tickets available at RaginCajuns.com and by calling the Cajundome (337) 265-2357.

THE COACHES:
LOUISIANA
GARRY BRODHEAD
At Louisiana: 18-25 (2nd Season)
Overall: Same
vs. Texas State: First Meeting

Texas State
ZENARAE ANTOINE
At TXST: 31-43 (3rd Season)
Overall: Same
vs. Louisiana: First Meeting

Game Notes

Setting the Scene: After picking up their first conference opening win since 2006, the Ragin' Cajuns will look to continue their winning ways and add to a four-game winning streak when they take on conference newcomer Texas State on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Cajundome. The Cajuns are led by sophomores Keke Veal and Sylvana Okde, averaging 11.8 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. Freshman Jaylyn Gordon is third on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game. Veal also leads the team and conference in steals per game with 3.2, and has registered three-or-more steals in nine of the team's 12 games.

About the Opponent: Texas State joins the Sun Belt after spending one season in the Western Athletic Conference and previously the Southland Conference. The Bobcats are 4-9 on the season and 1-1 in Sun Belt play with a victory over UALR, 42-35, in the conference opener and a loss to Arkansas State, 87-71, on Saturday, with both games in San Marcos. They are led by senior center, Ashley Ezeh, averaging 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ezeh is averaging 12.5 points a game in conference play, behind sophomore guard Erin Peoples' 13.0 in conference play.

Shades of 2006-07: The Ragin' Cajuns are currently riding a four-game winning streak after winning their conference opener, both feats they have not achieved since the NCAA Tournament qualifying season of 2006-07. They won seven straight games from Jan. 3-25, 2007, all Sun Belt match ups. The win streak did not include the Sun Belt opener, which they also won that season, defeating New Orleans 77-51 at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

Century Mark for Okde: Sophomore guard Sylvana Okde hit 74 3-pointers as a freshman and has hit 26 so far this season, becoming just the 8th player in school history to reach 100 career triples. Two players have reached the 200 mark, with Rhonda McCullough (1987-90) holding the school record with 260, and Kim Perrot (1986-90) with 202. Perrot achieved that feat despite the 3-point shot being nonexistent in her first season with the Ragin' Cajuns.

Chairmen of the Offensive Board: The Ragin' Cajuns lead the Sun Belt in offensive rebounds with 17.2 per game, an honor that they came just short of in 2013, finishing second to just Middle Tennessee. They lead Troy by 1.0 rebounds a game, and are 2.3 rebounds ahead of Arkansas State, who sits in third in the conference.

Like she stole Something: Keke Veal averages 3.17 steals per game through the first 12 games, leading both the team and the conference. She ranks 10th in the nation in steals per game and leads the Sun Belt Conference. She is second among players playing for schools in Louisiana, behind

To Their Defense: Despite ranking sixth in the Sun Belt in offense with 65.9 points per game, the Cajuns have balanced their game with the second-best scoring defense in the Sun Belt, allowing 60.2 points per game, behind UALR (55.8) and boast a +5.7 scoring margin, which is also second in the Sun Belt, behind WKU (+6.4).

Defending the Three: Louisiana ranks 16th in the nation in opponent 3-point percentage, holding opponents to 25.6 percent from 3-point land. They currently rank second in the Sun Belt, holding opponents to 32-of-125 from behind the arc, while making 61 triples of their own. UALR leads the conference, holding opponents to .254 from behind Chrisstasia Walter of Louisiana Tech (5th/3.33) D.J. Fowler of Charleston Southern leads the nation with 3.77 steals per game.

What's Next? The Ragin' Cajuns stay home to take on another conference newcomer in UT Arlington on Jan. 11 in the second game of a Sun Belt doubleheader at the Cajundome. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:15, but will be 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game of the doubleheader, between the Ragin' Cajuns and Mavericks men's teams, at 2 p.m. The Cajuns will then take to the road and travel to South Alabama (Jan. 15) and Troy (Jan. 18).

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Cajuns Return Home for Sun Belt Bout with Texas State

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