University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International
Greene Leads Cajuns To Season-High Third Straight Win
1/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004
The Gainesville, Fla., native scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in his third game back since being declared eligible to play prior to last Saturday's game, leading the visiting Ragin' Cajuns to a 78-58 victory over FIU at Golden Panther Arena.
Greene, who had scored seven points apiece in each of his previous two outings and had struggled from three-point land shooting just 11 percent (1-of-9), scored a season-high and converted 4-of-6 three-point attempts (67 percent).
With the win, Louisiana-Lafayette (9-5, 4-1 Sun Belt) won its season-high third straight. It was also the sixth straight victory for the Cajuns over FIU dating back to the 1999-2000 season.
The win also tied UL Lafayette head coach Jessie Evans for second all-time on the Sun Belt Conference-coaching victories list with his 69th league win in 99 tries. Evans is now tied with former South Alabama head coach Ronnie Arrow.
For the Golden Panthers (3-14, 0-5 Sun Belt) it was their seventh straight loss overall and 12th in the last 13 games.
Brian Hamilton and Chris Cameron each scored 11 points to give the Cajuns three players with double-digits in points – the 11th straight game with at least three players in double-figures scoring.
FIU received a team-high 15 points from Carlos Morban.
UL Lafayette had a decisive advantage in the rebound department outrebounding FIU 42-29 including a 29-19 edge on the defensive glass.
The Cajuns shot 73 percent (16-of-22) in the second half and ended the game at a 52 percent showing (32-of-62).
UL Lafayette had a 15-point lead at the half and stretched that lead out to 17 points at 50-33 with 15:51 remaining in the game.
The Golden Panthers would then use a 17-7 run over the next seven-plus minutes to pull within 57-50 with 8:01 showing on the clock.
The Cajuns then outscored FIU 12-3 over the next five minutes to regain a comfortable margin of 69-53 with 3:45 left to play.
Both offenses got off to a slow start in the opening half.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored the game's first two points when Laurie Bridges drove the left side of the lane and hit a layup to give the Cajuns a 2-0 lead at the 19:48 mark.
The next four minutes saw neither team score as the Cajuns began a streak of 14 straight missed field goals.
FIU finally got on the board with a basket by Raphael daSilva at 15:43 that tied the game.
The Golden Panthers took advantage of the Ragin' Cajuns shooting woes, taking their first and only lead of the contest when Belco Bamba converted a pair of free throws at the 13:34 mark.
Greene made his first three-pointer of the game on the ensuing possession to give UL Lafayette a 5-4 lead at 13:15. Greene's trey snapped a scoreless drought for the Cajuns that lasted 6 ˝ minutes.
Louisiana-Lafayette was shooting 1-of-15 from the floor before Greene's three-point basket. The Cajuns closed the first half making 15 of their final 25 field goal attempts.
FIU hung tough tying the game at 7-7 at 9:54 on a three-point basket by Marcus Robinson from the right corner.
The Cajuns answered on their next possession with Greene's second 3-pointer to retake the lead 10-7. Greene's three sparked a 7-0 run that pushed UL Lafayette's lead to 14-7 at 8:28.
The Golden Panthers kept the deficit under double-digits at the 3:49 mark on a reverse layup by Taurance Johnson cut the Cajuns lead to 28-19 with 3:49 left to play before the half.
Louisiana-Lafayette would stretch the advantage back into double-figures with five consecutive points by Greene. His third 3-pointer of the opening half made it 31-19.
On FIU's next possession the Cajuns would force a steal and Brad Boyd hit Greene on the fastbreak for the layup and a 33-19 lead.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
