Cajuns' Late Rally Falls Short, 72-65

DENTON, Texas ? After trailing by as many as 10 points, Louisiana made a furious second-half rally; however, North Texas held the Ragin' Cajuns scoreless for the game's final four minutes as the Mean Green pulled off a 72-65 triumph Saturday night at the Super Pit.

Louisiana (7-9, 4-2 Sun Belt) took a one-point lead, 65-64, on Randell Daigle's (Lafayette, La.) fifth three-pointer with 3:59 remaining in regulation. However, that would stand as Louisiana's last basket of the night ? and its last points ? as North Texas (12-4, 3-2 Sun Belt) closed the game on an 8-0 run for the win.

Daigle scored a career-high 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting ? all from three-point range ? while added four assists in 24 minutes. Senior center Abray Milson (Lafayette, La.) scored a season-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting with six rebounds. In all, eleven of Louisiana's 13 players scored at least two points.

Quincy Williams led all scorers with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Collin Dennis chipped in 17 points, going 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

The Mean Green prevented the Cajuns from holding a lead for longer than a possession as Louisiana's largest second half lead came on a Milson lay-in, 37-35. Williams then scored North Texas' next five points for a 41-39 lead.

Louisiana tied the game two more times before a 13-3 North Texas run put the Cajuns in a 10-point hole, 56-46. Daigle ended the Mean Green streak, promptly burying a 22-foot triple to cut it to a seven-point deficit.

Trailing by 10, the Cajuns made a furious comeback thanks to not one, not two, but three Daigle triples to give Louisiana a 65-64 lead at the 3:59 mark. The third of Daigle's triple trio gave the sophomore a career-high 17 points before he fouled out.

From that point, the Mean Green closed the game on an 8-0 run to take a 72-65 win.

North Texas opened the first half an 8-4 lead after Williams converted back-to-back baskets in the paint. Louisiana followed with an 8-0 run thanks to a pair of Daigle triples for a 12-8 Cajuns lead.

Daigle's two treys extended the sophomore guard's streak to 14 straight games with at least three-point basket. Daigle has also connected on two or more three-pointers in 11 of his last 12 contests.

Dennis followed with four straight points to knot the game at 12 all. The Cajuns regained a four-point cushion after two Elijah Millsap (Grambling, La.) free throws and a Chris Grandnigo (Lake Charles, La.) jumper. The game continued to go back-and-forth as the Mean Green again tied the game at 16-16.

The Mean Green would later take a three-point edge, 25-22, after a 6-0 run. The Cajuns slowly chipped away at the three-point North Texas edge as three Cajuns each went to the free throw line. David Dees (Dayton, Ohio), Tyren Johnson (Edgard, La.) and Willie Lago (Reserve, La.) each hit a free throw in their respective trips to the charity stripe, tying the game at 25-25.

Louisiana took a two-point lead, 27-25, on a Dees 15-foot jumper from the right wing. Brandon Dison (New Orleans, La.) added a jumper along the baseline for a four-point cushion. The Cajuns were clinging to a three-point lead in the waning moments of the first half until Ben Bell delivered a 20-footer equalizer as time expired for a 35-35 game at the break.

Ten different Cajuns recorded at least two points in the first half with Milson, Daigle and Gradnigo each chipping in a team-high six points. Louisiana forced 12 turnovers while shooting 57.1 percent (12-of-21) from the floor in the opening period.

Williams and Dennis led the Mean Green with seven points, while Bell and Adam McCoy each added five.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns return to the hardwood Tuesday when they take a brief break from conference action to host NCAA Division I Independent Utah Valley State at the CAJUNDOME. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 65

Daigle, Randell 5-10 2-2 17; Milson, Abray 4-5 2-2 10; Gradnigo, Chris 4-11

0-0 8; Dees, David 2-4 3-4 7; Bloom, Corey 2-4 0-1 6; Lago, Willie 2-6 0-3

5; Wallace, Courtney 1-3 1-2 3; Millsap, Elijah 0-3 3-7 3; Gary, La'Ryan 1-1

0-0 2; Johnson, Tyren 0-1 2-3 2; Dison, Brandon 1-2 0-0 2; Dees, Stephen 0-0

0-0 0; Barksdale, Maurice 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 13-24 65.

NORTH TEXAS 72

Williams, Quincy 7-8 4-6 18; Dennis, Collin 4-10 8-9 17; McCoy, Adam 3-5 0-1

8; Thompson, Tristan 2-3 4-6 8; White, Josh 2-7 3-4 7; Bell, Ben 3-9 0-0 7;

Howerton, Justin 1-2 1-2 3; Stewart, Harold 1-1 0-0 2; Hogans, Kedrick 0-0

1-2 1; Willingham, Dez 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 23-45 22-32 72.

Halftime: Tied at 35. 3-point goals--Louisiana-Lafayette 8-20 (Daigle, Randell 5-10; Bloom, Corey 2-4; Lago, Willie 1-3; Gradnigo, Chris 0-3), North Texas 4-9 (McCoy, Adam 2-3; Bell, Ben 1-2; Dennis, Collin 1-3; White, Josh 0-1). A-3453

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