University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
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2/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SOUTH ALABAMA ENDS CAJUN WINNING STREAK ... Feb. 3, 2000
LAFAYETTE -- South Alabama used steady shooting throughout the game to take a 69-65 win over Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday and end the Cajuns' 10-game winning streak.
After shooting 54.5 percent from the field in the game's first 20 minutes, the Jaguars (12-8, 7-2 SBC) cooled only slightly after coming out of the locker room in hitting 12 of their 24 second-half shots.
Meanwhile, USA limited UL Lafayette (16-6, 7-1 SBC) to only 37.5 percent from the field and took advantage of some poor Cajun play from the free throw line to take the victory. UL Lafayette hit only 11-of-25 free throws in the game, including a 1-of-9 performance in the second half.
UL Lafayette had not lost since a a 59-56 decision to Virginia Tech in the final day of the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico on Dec. 22. The 10-game winning streak tied for the fourth longest in school history and the 7-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play was the best ever by a Cajun squad. Ravonte Danztler led all scorers with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Dusty Dubbs added 12 points for the Jaguars.
USA jumped ahead early in the second half for a 35-34 lead with 18:22 remaining, and despite for three ties later in the game, would never trail again. The Jaguars appeared to have the game well under control at 47-38 on Virgil Stanescu's basket inside with 15:03 remaining.
However the Cajuns would go on a 12-3 run over the next five minutes to even the game at 50-50. Both teams traded baskets to 54-54 over a three-minute span but USA again pushed its lead back to nine points with a 7-0 run. Dantzler was the driving force behind the rally with two of his three treys coming during a 1:37 span, including a 19-foot jumper to the left of the key that have USA a 63-54 lead with only 4:40 remaining.
The Cajuns cut the lead back to 67-64 on Reggie DeGray's inside jumper with only 1:52 remaining, but that would be the only Cajun field goal for the rest of the game. USA's Dusty Dubbs hit only one of two free throws with 14 seconds left for a 68-65 Jaguar lead, giving the Cajuns a chance to tie.
However Orlando Butler's three-point attempt with 3.7 seconds left was off the mark. Michael Stewart grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled before hitting one of two free throws with half a second remaining for the final margin of victory.
Butler led the Cajuns with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Blane Harmon added 14 points with three treys of his won, while Lonnie Thomas added 11 points.
