Cajuns Battle Blue Raiders Saturday

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team will put a 10-game, home win streak against Sun Belt opponents on the line as Middle Tennessee comes to the Cajundome on Saturday. Tip-off has been moved to 7:30 p.m. in order to allow fans the opportunity to enjoy the New Orleans Saints NFC Playoff game, which begins at 3:30 p.m. Tip-off was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns (3-11, 1-2 Sun Belt)
vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-9, 1-1 Sun Belt)
When: Saturday, Jan. 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: Cajundome (11,550) | Lafayette, La.
TV: None
Radio: KPEL ESPN 1420 AM / KHXT 107.9 FM
Live Stats/Video: www.ragincajuns.com

Gameday Storylines

The Cajuns (3-11, 1-2 SBC) looks to continue its winning ways at home on Saturday against Middle Tennessee (6-9, 1-1 SBC) at the Cajundome.
Dating back to last season, UL has won 10-straight games at the 'Dome, including a perfect 9-0 mark last season. Only once before has UL posted a perfect record at the 'Dome in the SBC (7-0 in 2001-02).
The Blue Raiders lead the all-time series, 8-7, winning the last five meetings in a row. But four of the last five contests occurred in Murfreesboro, Tenn. and Saturday's game will mark just the third time the Blue Raiders have come to UL since the 2004-05 season.
The last time MT came to Lafayette was during the 2007-08 season. That year, Middle Tennessee downed the Cajuns, 57-51. The last win for the Cajuns over the Blue Raiders came on Jan. 29, 2005 with a 54-44 victory at the 'Dome.
During the 10-0 run at the Cajundome, the Cajuns have outscored league opponents by an average of 9.9 ppg (731-632).

Notes and Trends

Scouting the Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders have won 2 of their last 3 to sit at 6-9 overall and 1-1 in the Sun Belt
Middle Tennessee has had at least two players score in double figures in each of its 15 games to begin the season.
Senior James Washington has scored in double-figures in 11 of those contests including three 20-point performances to lead the team with 13.5 ppg.
Jason Jones also posts double figures with 12.2 ppg and is tied for a team-high 4.5 rpg.
The last time out, the Blue Raiders stunned league-leading North Texas with a 78-71 decision in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Jason Jones led MT with 16 points while Shawn Jones chipped in 15.

HIGH FIVE

Five players reached double figures in Thursday's win over Troy.
Travis Bureau has 22, Randell Daigle posted 17, Bryant Mbamalu & Courtney Wallace each had 11 while J.J. Thomas scored 10 points.
It was the first time, a quintet of Cajuns accomplished the feat since Feb. 4, 2010 against FAU.

B.B.B. - BETTER BASKETBALL BUREAU

In his first start since Dec. 12, Travis Bureau scored a season-high 22 points in 93-91 win over Troy.
As the Cajuns' leading scorer, the senior forward connected on 8-of-11 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from three-point range.
He also led the squad with seven rebounds in a team-high 34 minutes.

HOLDING COURT

Courtney Wallace turned in an impressive effort in the win over Troy with a season-high 11 points and a career-best 7-for-7 showing at the free throw line.
The senior forward also grabbed five boards, recorded one block and one steal against the Trojans in 21 minutes of play.
Over the past two games, Wallace is a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
He put together a sold stat line against New Mexico State., scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebound after coming off the bench.
With the effort against the Aggies, he tied his career record for assists in a game.

IT'S A BRAND NEW DAI-GLE

Randell Daigle broke up a seven-game slump in which he failed to reach double figures, scoring 17 off the bench against Troy.
The senior point guard was 5-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond-the-arc.
From the charity stripe, the senior point guard was 4-for-4 to go along with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes of action.

BENCH WARMERS

In the win over Troy, the Cajuns' bench combined to score 46 points. It was the best effort from the bench since 12/31/08 when UL got 55 points from the non-starters in a loss to Louisiana State (L, 79-81).

NO PLACE LIKE THE 'DOME

The Cajuns are currently riding a 10-game win streak against Sun Belt opponents on their home court, dating back to last season.
Last season the Ragin' Cajuns posted a 10-4 record in the Cajundome - the 15th consecutive season with a .500 mark or better.
UL finished undefeated at the Cajundome in Sun Belt play with a 9-0 mark last season. Only once before has UL posted a perfect record at the 'Dome in the SBC (7-0 in 2001-02).
In 23 of the previous 25 seasons, the Cajuns have recorded a winning record.
Since the 2000-01 season, UL's on-court record at the 'Dome is 93-39 (.705)

SILENT M

Freshman Bryant Mbamalu has slowly worked himself into the starting rotation and is making the most of his increase minutes.
He has scored in double figures in three of the last four outings.
Most recently against Troy, the freshman guard had 11 points on a 4-of-6 effort
At New Mexico State, he led UL with a career-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in a season-high 30 minutes.
Against Lamar, Mbamalu led the squad with 11 rebounds, his first double-digit effort of the season.

DOWNTOWN BROWN

After missing the previous four games due to injury, Josh Brown scored 20 points off the bench in the comeback win against Lamar.
He was 8-of-14 from the floor, scoring 11 in the second half.
He did not pick up a personal foul or commit a turnover in 29 minutes of play.
From the charity stripe, Brown was 3-for-3 and had one assist, one block and two steals.

DOUBLE J

J.J. Thomas posted his first career double-double against Texas College.
The freshman guard scored 15 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
All of his 15 points came in the second half where he was 5-for-8 from the floor

COMEBACK CAJUNS

In six games this season the Cajuns have overcome a double-digit deficit to make it a one-possession game. The Cajuns are 1-5 in these games.
Most recently at Denver, the Cajuns trailed by 14 before cutting the lead to two midway through the second half.
Against Cleveland State, UL tied the game at 43-43 after being down by as much as 18.
At Tulane, the Cajuns pulled to within one point, 42-43, after trailing by 10.
At UCF, the Knight led by as much as 18 points, before UL came charging back to make it 27-30.
Versus Lamar, UL fell behind by 11 points before tying the game at 33-33 and went on to claim the win.
At New Mexico State, the Cajuns fell behind 11 in the first half before making it a one-point game at the break, 35-36. In the second half, the Aggies were as up by as much as 10, before the Cajuns built a four-point lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

FAR FROM FAIR

Scottie Farrington has done well in his first year at UL. Currently he is averaging 6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg and tops the squad with a .561 shooting percentage (32-57).
At UCF, the Bahamian native, led UL with 12 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. He was 5-of-6 from the floor.
He currently leads the Cajuns with 24 blocks.

GLASS CLEANERS

In four games this season, UL has racked up at least 45 rebounds.
At New Mexico State, the Cajuns dominated the glass outrebounding the Aggies, 48-23. On the offensive glass, UL pulled down 23 boards - the same number as the Aggies' entire rebounding effort.
Versus Texas College, UL recorded a season-high 49 rebounds compared to the Steers' 29, including a 23-3 edge on the offensive glass
At Creighton, UL pulled down 45 boards compared to the Jays' 46
Against Louisiana College, UL grabbed 46 boards, outrebounding Wildcats by 15

DOUBLE DOWN

Travis Bureau tallied his second career double-double at McNeese after scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Bureau posted his first career double-double in the win over Louisiana College (11/15). He also set a new career-best for rebounds in the 16-point, 14-board performance.

SECOND HALF STRUGGLES

In the games against Houston and McNeese, UL took a double-digit lead into the half only to see it not hold up to a second half comeback from the opponent.
Against Houston, UL was up 38-26 but ultimately fell, 65-78.
At McNeese, the Cajuns were up 43-25 before the Cowboys rattled off a 25-5 run in the second half.

BLOCK PARTY

Scottie Farrington swatted a team-high eight shots in the loss to Cleveland State.
It was the first time a player has posted at least eight blocks since Michael Southall had 11 against North Texas in the 2005-06 season.

FEELING FINE

After sitting out all last season due to a gruesome injury suffered in the final game of the 2008-09 season, La'Ryan Gary has begun to make a significant impact
This season he is averaging 6.8 ppg comparable to his 6.9 ppg average from 2008-09
Against Cleveland State, Gary led UL with 19 point, six rebounds and four steals

ALL OVER THE RADAR

Randell Daigle put together a career-night in the loss to Creighton. He was 9-of-17 from the floor including 7-for-13 from three-point range. He set new career records in points (25), FG's made (9), rebounds (9) and three's made (7).
His scoring effort was the most since his freshman season when he scored 24 against LSU in 2008-09.

DOUBLE DIGIT DEBUTS

Two newcomers scored in double digits in their UL debut.
Josh Brown and David Perez both scored 16 points in the season-opener against New Mexico State.
Brown was 8-of-21 with four rebounds.
Perez was 6-of-9 from the floor, including a 4-of-5 showing from three-point range.

BOUNCING BACK

Three players - Travis Bureau, La'Ryan Gary and Courtney Wallace - all return for 2010-11 after recovering from injuries.
Bureau was hampered most of last season with a nagging hip injury, Gary missed all last season after having surgery and Wallace saw limited action after suffering multiple injuries.

HE'S BACK

La'Ryan Gary returned to the court for the Cajuns for the first time since suffering an injury during the opening game of the 2008-09 Sun Belt Conference.
Against New Mexico State, the senior scored six points and had three rebounds in 16 minutes of action.

A NEW ERA BEGINS

Louisiana named Bob Marlin the 13th head men's basketball coach at the University of Louisiana on Monday, March 29, 2010.
Marlin comes to Louisiana after serving in the same capacity at Sam Houston State since 1998.
In 12 seasons with the Bearkats, Marlin produced an overall record of 225 victories and 131 losses -- more victories than any other Southland Conference member during that time span.
His best overall season with the Bearkats came in 2009-10, as he led SHSU to a 25-8 mark, including a 14-2 record in conference play and a 13-1 mark at home. He was named as 2010 Southland Conference Coach of the Year after capturing the Southland regular season and tournament championship. It was the third time that the Southland bestowed him as its Coach of the Year ('00, '03 '10).
His last eight seasons at SHSU produced a combined record of 163-81 for an average record of 20-10 each season. That stretch included five 20-plus win seasons, two conference championships and two NCAA Tournament berths. Sam Houston is one of only 52 Division I men's basketball teams to post four 20-victory seasons in the last five years.

PLAYING IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD

Continuing a trend which started in the 2007-08 season, the Ragin' Cajuns roster is loaded with talent from the State of Louisiana.
A total of 12 of 14 players on the roster call Louisiana home. Louisiana has three players from Lafayette - Colby Batiste, Randell Daigle and La'Ryan Gary.

FRESH NEW FACES

The Cajuns will see an influx of talent with seven newcomers on the 2010-11 roster.
Josh Brown and Scottie Farrington come to UL from Odessa College while David Perez transferred from Centenary.
Three true freshman will suit up this season with J.J. Thomas, Bryant Mbamalu and Donovan Williams.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

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