Louisiana-Lafayette 69, New Mexico State 67
2/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CAJUN BASKETBALL GETS SHARE OF SBC WEST
Feb. 23, 2002
?LAFAYETTE --- Louisiana-Lafayette did something it had never done before Saturday, and the end result was a Sun Belt Conference championship.
?The Cajuns got a balanced scoring attack and some clutch free throw shooting late in taking a 69-67 win over visiting New Mexico State in front of a season-best 7,743 fans at the Cajundome. The win handed Louisiana-Lafayette (18-9, 11-4 SBC West) a share of the SBC West with NMSU (19-11, 11-4 SBC West). It also gave the Cajuns a 7-0 record in SBC home games – marking the first time the Cajuns have ever run the table in the league.
?By virtue of the Cajuns' regular-season sweep of the Aggies, the Cajuns also claimed the West Division's top seed in next week's SBC Tournament.
?Four Cajuns hit double figures, as freshman center
Michael Southall led the way with 14 points, while senior Darryl Robins had his second career double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) during his final game at the Cajundome. Sophomore guard
Laurie Bridges added 12 points, while
Anthony Johnson had 10.
?Senior guard Eric Channing led NMSU with a game-high 16 points, while James Moore added 10.
?In an extremely physical game in which 46 fouls were called, the Cajuns managed to erase a three-point halftime deficit early in the second.
?After Southall had to sit most of the first half with two fouls, the West Salem, Wis., native took charge in the deciding frame. With his team down 47-46 with 11:38 to play, Southall started a 10-0 run with a slam.
?The Cajun defense held NMSU scoreless for more nearly four minutes to stretch the lead to 56-47. But the Aggies battled back thanks to Moore, who hit three field goals during a one-minute span to cut the deficit to 62-59 with 3:23 left.
?NMSU then pounded the boards, grabbing two offensive rebounds off missed free throws and got the margin to 66-65 with 1:24 to play. But after Robins hit a free throw, the Aggies failed to score on their next possession and were forced to foul Johnson with 12 seconds left.
?Johnson, who missed much of the game after re-aggravating a back injury, stepped up and hit two free throws to ice it. Channing scored a layup at the buzzer to provide the final margin.
?La.-Lafayette will now play in an SBC quarterfinal game next Saturday, while NMSU will play next Sunday.
Louisiana-Lafayette 69, New Mexico State 67
?NMSU (19-11, 11-4 SBC WEST) – Moore 5-11 4-5 14, Jackson 4-10 3-7 11, Fontenet 1-5 0-0 3, Mason 0-6 0-1 0, Channing 5-15 5-5 16, Morris 1-5 0-0 2, Trammell 3-6 0-3 6, Felder 0-1 4-6 4, Crooks 4-7 1-1 11. Totals 23-66 17-28 67.
?LA.-LAFAYETTE (18-9, 11-4 SBC WEST) – Robins 3-6 4-9 10, Southall 5-10 4-7 14, Boyd 3-6 0-0 8, Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Bridges 5-6 2-4 12, Landry 1-4 0-0 3, Lawrence 3-6 0-0 7, Jupiter 0-3 1-2 1, Whiting 1-3 0-0 2, Johnson 1-3 8-8 10, Kandji 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 23-48 19-32 69.
?Half – NMSU 35, La.-Lafayette 32. 3-point field goals – NMSU 4-14 (Fontenet 1-2, Mason 0-3, Channing 1-3, Morris 0-2, Trammell 0-1, Crooks 2-3), La.-Lafayette 4-13 (Boyd 2-5, Landry 1-4, Lawrence 1-1, Jupiter 0-2, Whiting 0-1). Fouled out – none. Rebounds – NMSU 38 (Jackson 10), La.-Lafayette 39 (Robins 12). Assists – NMSU 11 (Moore, Fontenet 2), La.-Lafayette 12 (Lawrence 4). Total fouls – NMSU 22, La.-Lafayette 24. A – 7,743.
