CAJUNS XXX?Jan
1/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CAJUNS TAKE ROAD WIN AT NMSU
Jan. 19, 2002
?LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Maybe a bad week of practice is exactly what Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun basketball team needed.
?The Cajuns, after a week of what was described as sluggish practices by the coaches, used a new lineup and got a new result on the road in taking a 71-66 Sun Belt Conference win at New Mexico State (11-8, 4-3 SBC West) Saturday night at Pan American Center.
?Sophomore guard
Brad Boyd had six three-pointers, including the eventual game-winner with just over 20 seconds left, as the Cajuns (9-7, 3-2 SBC West) took just their second road win in seven games this year.
?Boyd was one of three Cajuns that made a rare move to the starting lineup. Guards
Laurie Bridges and Emanuel Washington also got the nod, and the duo was instrumental in holding NMSU All-SBC standout Eric Channing to just one field goal and three points.
?"Our perimeter guys stepped up all night on both sides of the floor," said Cajun head coach Jessie Evans. "Emanuel and Laurie did an excellent job on the defensive side, and Brad stepped up and did what he does best. Our entire team rose to the occasion tonight."
?Boyd, a native of Lafayette and a graduate of St. Thomas More High School, was one of four Cajun in double figures.
Anthony Johnson and Shea Whiting each contributed 11 points, and freshman center
Michael Southall had 10 points, nine rebounds and a season-best five assists.
?Louisiana-Lafayette admittedly did not have the best week of practice coming into Saturday's tilt. The Cajuns had not played since a 69-64 setback at Middle Tennessee last Saturday. The rust and the week's sloppiness, however, were rarely evident on this night.
?The Cajuns shot 52.7 percent from the field, including a 6-for-11 night from 3-point range. The visitors did have 17 turnovers, but one of the best defensive outputs of the year helped force 20 NMSU miscues and a 37.9 percent shooting night.
?James Moore, the 2001 SBC Freshman of the Year, led the Aggies with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Newcomer Chris Jackson had 10 points and 12 boards. The Cajuns, though, held the rest of the lineup in check.
?From the beginning, Louisiana-Lafayette took charge. The Cajuns bolted out to a 14-3 lead after Boyd hit his second trey just four minutes in. Evans' bunch never trailed in the first half and held a double-digit advantage on two occasions.
?In fact, NMSU never got a lead until Channing hit his first shot of the contest – a 3-pointer with 3:39 left in the second half. The Cajuns never folded, though, as Whiting quickly answered with a layup.
?The lead went back and forth over the next few minutes until Boyd's sixth trey broke a 66-66 tie with 25 seconds left. NMSU missed its own 3-pointer, and Bridges iced it with two free throws with six seconds left.
?Louisiana-Lafayette will return home at 7:05 p.m. Thursday against North Texas.
Louisiana-Lafayette 71, New Mexico State 66
?LA.-LAFAYETTE (9-7, 3-2 SBC WEST) – Robins 4-7 0-2 8, Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Southall 4-6 2-5 10, Bridges 3-9 2-2 8, Boyd 7-10 1-1 21, Landry 0-0 0-0 0, Lawrence 0-2 0-0 0, Whiting 5-10 1-3 11, Jupiter 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 5-9 1-3 11, Kandji 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-55 7-16 71.
?NMSU (11-8, 4-3 SBC WEST) – Jackson 3-7 4-6 10, Fontenet 3-6 0-1 6, Mason 2-10 3-6 8, Channing 1-7 0-0 3, Moore 7-13 10-11 24, Morris 3-5 0-0 6, Trammell 0-4 0-1 0, Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Felder 0-1 0-0 0, Crooks 3-5 1-2 9.?
?Half – La.-Lafayette 37, NMSU 32. 3-point field goals – La.-Lafayette 6-11 (Boyd 6-7, Bridges 0-2, Johnson 0-2), NMSU 4-18 (Fontenet 0-2, Mason 1-5, Channing 1-5, Morris 0-2, Trammell 0-2, Crooks 2-2). Fouled out – Whiting. Rebounds – La.-Lafayette 32 (Southall 9), NMSU 42 (Jackson 12). Assists – La.-Lafayette 16 (Southall 5), NMSU 8 (Mason 5). Total fouls – La.-Lafayette 24, NMSU 16. A – 6,552.
--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE--
