CAJUNS XXX?
2/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CAJUN OFFENSE STRUGGLES IN LOSS AT NT.
Feb. 11, 2002
?DENTON, Texas – Louisiana-Lafayette had not allowed an opponent to shoot 40 percent from the field in the last seven games entering Monday night's game at North Texas. On this night, though, it was the Cajuns' turn to struggle.
?The Cajuns shot just 29 percent from the floor, and North Texas used an explosive second half in taking a 78-59 Sun Belt Conference victory at Super Pit.
?NT (13-11, 7-5 SBC West) got 19 points from junior forward Jermaine Green, who was one of four Mean Green scorers in double figures. All-SBC guard Chris Davis added 18 points, while Leonard Hopkins had 13 and Jerome Rogers 10.
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Anthony Johnson led the Cajuns (14-9, 7-4 SBC West) with 18 points, but his night symbolized Cajun life in a nutshell. The junior grabbed 10 rebounds, including six offensive, but he struggled to a 5-for-17 shooting night. Freshman center
Michael Southall had 11points and six rebounds.
?Despite shooting only 30.8 percent in the first half, the Cajuns still managed to hold a 30-28 edge thanks to a strong rebounding effort (31-18, including 17 offensive boards). They were able to hold the Mean Green to just 32 percent shooting, and things looked promising as Davis picked up two quick fouls.
?In the second half, though, NT managed to get to the free throw line early and often and built a seven-point advantage with 14:34 left. Southall, who picked up his third foul two minutes into the half, helped get the lead down to two.
?But the West Salem, Wis., native, who had 26 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocks in the schools' first meeting last month, got his fourth and NT took advantage. The Mean Green increased the lead to 60-50 with 5:51 left, and the Cajuns' poor shooting and foul trouble continued.
?Louisiana-Lafayette finished the game with 25 fouls, and the Mean Green connected on 31-of-41 free throws. Davis, who played just 19 minutes, had 11 points in the second half.
?The Cajuns, playing their fourth game in eight days, tallied a season-best 27 offensive rebounds and out-boarded the Mean Green 53-40. Louisiana-Lafayette will be back in action Thursday, hosting Arkansas State in a 7:05 p.m. SBC matchup at the Cajundome.
North Texas 78, Louisiana-Lafayette 59
?LA.-LAFAYETTE (14-9, 7-4 SBC WEST) – Whiting 1-7 0-0 2, Johnson 5-17 7-9 18, Southall 5-10 1-4 11, Boyd 2-8 0-0 5, Washington 1-5 0-0 2, Landry 0-3 0-0 0, Lawrence 1-2 0-0 2, Bridges 1-4 0-0 2, Jupiter 3-12 2-3 8, Robins 3-6 3-6 9, Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Byrd 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-74 13-22 59.
?NORTH TEXAS (13-11, 7-5 SBC WEST) – Green, J. 5-13 9-13 19, Mangrum 1-3 0-0 2, Smith 1-1 1-2 3, White 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 6-9 5-6 18, Rogers 2-5 4-4 10, Chiles 0-0 0-0 0, Blount 0-0 3-4 3, Awasom 2-3 0-0 4, McKenzie 0-1 0-0 0, Green, L. 0-2 0-0 0, Hopkins 3-12 7-10 13, Masters 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 22-54 31-41 78.
?Half – La.-Lafayette 30, NT 28. 3-point field goals – La.-Lafayette 2-15 (Johnson 1-4, Boyd 1-5, Landry 0-2, Jupiter 0-4), NT 3-20 (Green, J. 0-1, Mangrum 0-2, White 0-1, Davis 1-3, Rogers 2-4, Awasom 0-1, Green, L. 0-2, Hopkins 0-6. Fouled out—Masters. Rebounds – La.-Lafayette 53 (Johnson 10), NT 40 (Hopkins 10). Assists – La.-Lafayette 11 (Johnson 4), NT 10 (Hopkins 4). Total fouls – La.-Lafayette 25, NT 21. A – 4,132.
--LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE--
