University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
McNeese State
Late Rally Comes Up Short For Cajuns
11/29/2009 3:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team was able to battle back from a 15-point deficit but the rally came up short as McNeese State was able to claim a 60-58 victory.
With the loss, Louisiana falls to 1-3 on the season. McNeese now sits at 2-4.
After UL opened the contest with a 6-2 run, the Cowboys responded with a 14-0 run to claim an early lead in the first half.
The Cajuns closed to within four points at the 1:04 mark, but a basket by McNeese with 43 seconds remaining put the Cowboys up 33-27 at the half.
McNeese started the second half on a 9-0 run, claiming its largest lead of the game, 42-27, at the 17:23 mark.
McNeese appeared to be on the verge of running away with the game when the Cowboys went out by 13 points with a little less than four minutes remaining.
It was then, however, that the Cajuns began their own run. Over the next three minutes they outscored the Cowboys 17-4, a pair of free throws by Randell Daigle tying the score at 58 with only seven seconds remaining.
But ultimately McNeese was able to walk away with the win, 60-58, after C.J. Collins hit two free throws with four seconds left.
The Cajuns shot 34 percent (18-53) from the floor on the night, including 3-of-18 from the three-point line. McNeese shot 50 percent, hitting 21-of-42 field goals.
Tyren Johnson was one of two players for UL in double figures. He finished the night with a double-double, scoring 15 points with 13 rebounds. Daigle chipped in 10 points in the losing effort.
Patrick Richard led McNeese with 21 points.
Next up for the Cajuns will be a road contest at LSU on Dec. 1. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
