University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
New Orleans
Cajuns Punch Their Ticket to the "Big Dance"
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
With the win, Louisiana-Lafayette clinched its fourth Sun Belt Tournament title in school history and first since the 2000 season. It is the second title under head coach Jessie Evans.
The Cajuns (20-8), awarded the league's automatic bid, will represent the Sun Belt Conference in the NCAA Tournament – the second appearance under Evans and the third straight postseason appearance (2002 & 2003 NIT).
"This is a good win," Evans said. "The guys have worked hard all year, and it's nice to be rewarded with a championship."
Louisiana-Lafayette led 33-30 at
the half and used its defense in the first 10 minutes of
the second frame to stage a 13-4 run that opened a 46-37
lead with 10:32 left to play.
UNO would rally to cut the deficit to six points with 7:47 left to play, but Brad Boyd nailed a triple out on the left wing with seven minutes remaining that gave the Cajuns a 56-45 lead.
The lead remained in double-digits until a layup from UNO's Kyle Buggs made the final margin nine points. The Cajuns sealed the win with free throws down the stretch.
UL Lafayette senior Antoine Landry led four Cajuns in double figures with 16 points, while Laurie Bridges tallied eight points and 12 rebounds. Brad Boyd contributed 15 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Cajuns held UNO, which was playing its third game in three nights to 33 percent shooting (3-for-22 from three-point range). For the game UNO was limited to 33 percent shooting (21-of-63) including 27 percent in the second half (9-of-33).
Louisiana-Lafayette held Bo McCalebb, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, to nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.
UL Lafayette went on a 17-9 run to close out the first half and then used a 9-2 run in the final frame to pull away.
The Cajuns made just 1-of-10 shot
attempts in the first four-plus minutes of the game as
UNO built a 12-4 lead at the 15:09 mark.
UL Lafayette would heat up going 10-for-16 from the floor over the next 12 minutes culminating with a Boyd three-point basket at 2:57 that gave the Cajuns their first lead of the game at 28-26.
An outlet pass from Boyd near midcourt found Cedric Williams for his 10th point of the opening frame at 1:43 to give UL Lafayette its largest lead of the game 30-26.
Baskets from Victor Brown and Billy McDade tied the game with 48 seconds left before intermission. On the Cajuns next possession Boyd hit his third triple of the half to put the Cajuns up 33-30.
UNO had a chance to tie the game starting the final possession of the half with 24 seconds left, but wound up turning the ball over with five seconds left.
GAME NOTES:
* Louisiana-Lafayette becomes the fifth straight No. 1 seed to win the Sun Belt Tournament
* The Ragin' Cajuns are now 2-1 in Sun Belt championship games under head coach Jessie Evans. UL Lafayette is 4-2 overall in SBC Tournament title games.
* UL Lafayette will make its third straight postseason appearance. The Cajuns reached the NIT in 2001-02 and '02-03.
* New Orleans was playing its first Sun Belt championship since 1996.
* The Cajuns are now 13-4 versus New Orleans under Jessie Evans.
* Brian Hamilton and Brad Boyd were the Ragin' Cajuns All-Tournament team selections.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
