University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Continue Winning Ways
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Cajuns
Continue Winning Ways
Louisiana Finishes
Home Slate 8-3
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns three seniors made the most of Senior Day at the Cajundome, playing a large role in the Cajuns 71-65 victory over Arkansas State.
Seniors Chris Cameron, Dwayne Mitchell and Michael Southall combined for 45 points, 21 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and three blocks.
With the win, Louisiana (11-15, 6-8) moves into a tie for third place in the Sun Belt's West Division. The Cajuns stand even with North Texas, who defeated Troy Thursday night.
The Cajuns finish the 2005-06 regular season on Saturday at Arkansas-Little Rock. The Cajuns-Trojans game will air live on ESPN+ starting at 5pm. North Texas ends their campaign at west-leader South Alabama.
UL needed 6:56 of the second half to turn a six-point halftime hole into a one-point lead. The key spurt came as the Cajuns scored six straight points in a 3:10 span to grab their first lead since the 5:23 mark of the first half.
Unfortunately, ASU (12-16, 7-6) took the lead back from the Cajuns just eight seconds later.
Mitchell momentarily tied the game with a free throw, but ASU jumped back ahead on a three-point play by Marcus Ardison only 20 seconds after Mitchell's free throw.
The Indians lead grew to five, 58-53, at 11:13.
The Cajuns battled back, using a 10-4 run over the next four minutes to take the lead once again. Three-pointers by Ross Mouton and Mitchell, a jumper by Mitchell and a reverse lay-up by Southall gave UL a 63-62 lead at 7:16.
ASU's quick counter misfired and Southall converted consecutive jumpers in the paint to extend the Cajuns lead to 67-62 with 5:42 remaining.
A basket by the Indians' Isaac Wells cut the Cajuns lead to three, 67-64, with 5:06 to play.
From there, the Cajuns would not surrender another field goal.
Mitchell made three free throws and Cameron one from the stripe in the final minute to secure victory.
Southall led the Cajuns with 22 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in 37 minutes. Mitchell had 17 points, five boards, five assists and three steals in 40 minutes. Mouton was the third Cajun in double figures, adding 12 points.
Wells led four Indians in double figures with 21 points.
The first half featured terrific shooting at both ends of the court. UL connected at 48 percent from the floor, while ASU shot 62 percent from the floor, including 73 percent (8-11) from three-point range.
Both teams battled back and forth the entire half, until the Indians finished the half on a 7-2 run to claim a six-point lead at the break.
Neither team was able to establish much of a lead early, as the Cajuns largest margin came with a 29-24 lead at the 6:03 mark. ASU's biggest lead came with a 36-31 edge at the 2:36 mark until UL cut it to a one-point game at the 1:48 mark.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
