University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Another Second Half Cold Spell Costs Cajuns
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MIAMI –
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns led the entire first half, but then lost that lead 47 seconds into the second half and never got it back, falling 55-50 on Saturday night at Florida International.The loss drops the Cajuns to 4-12 (0-5), while the win improves FIU to 5-13 (2-4).
Louisiana had won eight straight contests versus FIU, but the Cajuns now see their losing skid hit a season-high five games. The Cajuns have lost their last six road games and their last seven regular season Sun Belt Conference games.
Despite shooting 55 percent in the first half, to just 36 percent by FIU, Louisiana led by only two points after the first 20 minutes.
The Golden Panthers never led in the first half, but used a three-pointer by Johwen Villegas to open the second stanza by grabbing the lead, 29-28.
Louisiana needed 4:27 to finally get their first field goal of the second half, a short jumper by Dwayne Mitchell. Since the Cajuns had played superb defense up to that point, Mitchell's bucket gave UL back the lead, 32-31.
FIU then used a 6-0 run after Mitchell's basket to take a five-point lead, 37-32, at the 14:27 mark.
UL cut the Golden Panthers lead to one point on four different occasions and tied the game twice over the next 10 minutes, but were never able to take the lead.
Michael Southall tied the game at 43-43 at the 8:33 mark, and then again at 45-45 with 4:25 remaining, but each time FIU was able to regain its lead.
Louisiana collapsed with 10 seconds left and trailing by one. Ed Turner was called for an intentional foul and then a technical foul. Elvis Lora hit three of the four ensuing free throws to seal the Cajuns fate.
Southall led Louisiana with 13 points and nine rebounds. The Cajuns, who shot 26 percent in the second half, had no other players score in double figures.
FIU had four players in double figures, led by 14 points from Villegas. Ivan Almonte chipped in 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Cajuns jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the game's opening 4:26. Triples by Lucian Pesoli and Maurice Barksdale, and buckets from Southall and Mitchell contributed to the early edge.
The Golden Panthers shooting woes let up momentarily, as FIU used a short 5-0 run to trim the Cajuns lead in half.
Louisiana's lead dipped to four, 17-13, at the 7:55 mark, but UL responded with a 7-0 run to take a 24-13 lead. Baskets by Southall and Chris Cameron preceded a three-pointer by J.T. Fields.
FIU closed the last five minutes of the half with a 13-4 surge to head into the locker room trailing by two.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
