Men's Hoops Seeks to Finish Road Trip Strong

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Opponent: Arkansas State (8-12, 2-4 Sun Belt)
Site: Convocation Center (10,038)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KHXT) – Jay Walker, play-by-play
Live Stats/Video: www.AStateRedWolves.com

LOUISIANA-ARKANSAS STATE SERIES
The Series: Louisiana leads 43-20
In Jonesboro: Louisiana leads 17-13
Convocation Center: ASU leads 11-9
Streak: Louisiana - won 1
Last Meeting: Louisiana 64, ASU 61 (Cajundome // Feb. 17, 2011)
Noteworthy: Two schools have been conference foes since the American South days (since the 1987-88 season). This is the 25th straight season they meet as conference rivals.

LOUISIANA
11-12 Record____________________     10-10
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________       4-2
Last Game______________________     Jan. 19, 2012
                                                                            at UALR W, 68-49
Head Coach____________________      Bob Marlin
   UL Record____________________      24-25 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________      372-191 (19^th Season)
   Marlin vs. ASTATE_____________         2-2
Web Site_______________________     www.RaginCajuns.com

ARKANSAS STATE
11-12 Record____________________     8-12
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________       2-4
Last Game______________________     Jan. 19, 2012
                                                                            at Middle Tennessee L, 46-59
Head Coach____________________       John Brady
   ASTATE Record_______________         55-58 (4^thSeason)
   Career Record_________________      336-274 (20^th Season)
   Brady vs. UL__________________        5-4
Web Site_______________________     www.AStateRedWolves.com

Game Night Story Lines
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team looks to ride the momentum of a dominant defensive effort at UALR as they attempt to sweep the Arkansas road swing. Louisiana and Arkansas State meet at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
>>> UL has won its last two games and can equal its season-long win streak with a victory on Saturday.
>>> In Thursday's win over UALR, the Cajuns held the Trojans to a season-low 25.4 percent shooting and handed the Sun Belt West leaders their first conference defeat of the season.
>>> Louisiana is off to a 4-2 start in Sun Belt play which is the best mark through six games since the 2007-08 season.
>>> The UALR game began a stretch in which 10 of the final 11 games are against SBC West foes.
>>> Saturday's game is a matchup of teams headed in opposite directions. UL has won five of seven after falling to 5-8 following the Robert Morris loss (Dec. 17). ASU has lost six of eight since evening their record at 6-6 following a win over Lyon College (Dec. 19).
>>> The Red Wolves have played four of six Sun Belt games at the Convocation Center, but have gone just 1-3 in those contests.
>>> Josh Brown has scored double figures in 10 of the last 13 games (five of first six Sun Belt games).
>>> In SBC play, the Cajuns have held opponents 35.9% shooting including a meager 22.1% (19-of-86) from 3-point range. UL is tied with Middle Tennessee for the lead in field goal percentage defense in conference play.
>>> The Cajuns have shot the ball well this season, shooting 40 percent or higher in 14 of 20 contests. All 10 wins have come when shooting above 40 percent.

KEEPING PACE, MOVING CLOSER
>>> The Cajuns dominating 68-49 win over UALR on Thursday kept the Cajuns near the top of the Sun Belt West division.
>>> UL moved within one game of UALR (5-1 SBC) for the division lead. The Cajuns also stayed one game behind Denver (5-1 SBC) and pulled into a tie with North Texas (4-2 SBC) for third place in the division standings.

THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
>>> Just how strong has the Cajuns defense been in Sun Belt play? One look at the statistics for conference-games only tell the story.
>>> In Sun Belt play, Louisiana leads in: field goal percentage defense (35.9%), 3-point field goal percentage defense (22.1%), total rebounds (43.0 rpg), blocked shots (7.0 bpg) and defensive rebounds (29.5 drpg).

ARKANSAS ROAD SWING FACTOIDS
>>> Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 1991-92, the Cajuns have taken the Arkansas road swing seven times (includes this season's trip).
>>> UL has swept the trip twice (1997-98 and 1999-2000). In the last sweep (February 2000), the Cajuns won on Thursday in Little Rock (88-62) and Saturday in Jonesboro (79-75).

THE THREE HORSEMEN
>>> Josh Brown (12.8 ppg), Darshawn McClellan (11.0 ppg) and J.J. Thomas (10.3) have combined to average 34.1 points per game in Sun Belt play.

AN EMERGING THREAT
>>> Alan-Michael Thompson is beginning to heat up from three-point range for the Cajuns. The JUCO transfer is coming off a 3-for-4 showing from beyond the arc at UALR which led to him scoring a game-high 14 points off the bench.
>>> Thompson is 5-for-8 from long range the past two outings (2-for-4 vs. FIU on 1/14).

A BOOST OFF THE BENCH
>>> Since returning to the court on Dec. 21 after missing six games with lingering effects from an off-season knee injury, J.J. Thomas has come off the bench and provided Louisiana with average of 10.6 points per game in an average of 22-plus minutes of action.

A CONSISTENT THREAT FROM THREE
>>> Darshawn McClellan, who averaged 17 points per game on the USA-FIU homestand, ranks Top 10 in the SBC in three-point field goal percentage (42.9%).

LAST TIME VS. ASTATE IN CONVOCATION CENTER (Jan. 12, 2011 – ASTATE won 74-65)
>>> The Red Wolves shot 53.7 percent for the night and never trailed in a 74-65 triumph.
>>> ASU started 4-for-4 for a quick 10-2 lead by the first media timeout. The Red Wolves knocked down 13 field goals in the first 12 minutes and led 30-15 at the 8:27 mark.
>>> UL used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 30-25 with 4:22 left in the opening half, but ASU hit three three-pointers and brought a 43-34 advantage into the half.
>>> ASU shot 50 percent in the second half to fend off the Cajuns who rallied within five points twice in the game's final four minutes.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
>>> UL has held the opposition to 70 points or less in regulation nine of the last 10 games.

70 HAS BEEN KEY
>>> When scoring above 70 the Cajuns are 7-1. When scoring below 70 the squad is 3-9.
>>> Behind strong defensive play in Sun Belt action, Louisiana has posted two victories when scoring less than 70.

A SPECIAL WEAPON
>>> The UL bench has outscored the opponents bench in all but six games this season.
>>> UL's bench has reached 40 points three times (at San Francisco, vs. Nicholls State, vs. Dillard). The bench provided a season-high 52 points in the 102-38 win over Dillard.
>>> On average, the Cajuns bench is outscoring the opposition's bench 27.7 to 23.4.

A SPECIAL WEAPON, PART TWO
>>> Bench points could prove a huge advantage for the Ragin' Cajuns in Jonesboro. ASU's reserves are averaging only 7.8 points per game in Sun Belt action.
>>> On Thursday, the UL bench scored 36 at UALR. The ASU bench was shutout at MT.

SERIES HISTORY (Louisiana leads 43-20, overall; ASU leads 11-9 in Convocation Center)
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns lead the series 21-12 since the two teams joined the Sun Belt in 1991-92.
>>> The two teams are hitting the hardwood in the Convocation Center for the 21^st time. ASU holds an 11-9 edge in meetings held at the facility.
>>> The Red Wolves ended a four-game Cajuns win streak in the series with a 62-60 win in
Jonesboro on Jan. 28, 2010. That began a string in which the teams have alternated victories in their home-and-home series the past two seasons.
>>> Dating back to a 54-50 UL victory on Feb. 14, 2009 at the Cajundome, the home team has won the last five meetings. The Cajuns were the last visiting team to win, doing so on Feb. 16, 2008 at the Convocation Center (W, 65-59).
>>> ASU is 2-0 vs. UL at the Convocation Center in the John Brady era,
>>> Two schools have been conference foes since the American South days (since the 1987-88 season). This is the 25^th straight season they meet as conference rivals.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns are back at the Cajundome on Wednesday, Jan. 25 hosting North Texas in what should be a pivotal Sun Belt West division contest.
>>> The game is the second half of a doubleheader with the UL and NT women and begins at 7:15 p.m.
>>> The Cajuns are 10-1 all-time at the Cajundome vs. the Mean Green.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

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