University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Tulane
Cajuns Rally, Fall Short At Tulane
12/4/2010 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Poor first half shooting and several scoring droughts proved to be the deciding factor as Tulane defeated Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team, 63-52, at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans on Saturday afternoon.
The Cajuns struggled in the first half, hitting just 8-of-28 from the floor and a paltry 3-for-11 from three-point range. Tulane, on the other hand, shot 42.9 percent (12-28) with 14 points coming in the paint.
The Cajuns are now 1-6 this season while Tulane improves to 5-2.
During the first 10 minutes, neither team could pull away after five lead changes and three ties. The most either team led by was three points, with Tulane holding a 16-13 lead at the 10:25 mark.
A three-pointer by Raymone Andrews tied it back up at 16-16, snapping a near four-minute scoreless stretch for the Cajuns at 8:43.
But an 8-3 run by the Green Wave gave either team the largest lead of the half, 24-19, with 3:16 remaining.
Tulane continued the run, taking a 29-21 lead into the break.
Andrews converted a three-point play early in the second half to bring the Cajuns within one possession of the Green Wave's lead, 35-32, with 17:10 remaining.
Both teams traded baskets until J.J. Thomas converted a three-point play to draw within one point, 43-42, with 9:31 left in the game.
Minutes later Thomas drained a three to tie the game, 50-50, at the 7:06 mark.
But the Cajuns struggled to score down the stretch as the Green Wave rattled off a 12-2 run to closeout the game. The Cajuns failed to score for the final six minutes of the game.
Thomas led UL with 16 points, while Bureau and Daivd Perez chipped in 10 each.
UL finished the game shooting 35.1 percent (20-57) compared to Tulane's 42.9 percent (24-56).
The Cajuns will have a few days off before playing back in the confines of the Cajundome. UL will host Texas College on Sunday, Dec. 12. It will mark the first time since Nov. 19 that the Cajuns will have played at home. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m. CT.
