Men's Hoops Closes Out January in Monroe

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
Location: Monroe, La.
Opponent: La.-Monroe (2-19, 1-7 Sun Belt)
Site: Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
Game Time: 4 p.m.
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KHXT) – Jay Walker, play-by-play
Live Stats/Video: www.ULMWarhawks.com

LOUISIANA-LA.-MONROE SERIES
The Series: Louisiana leads 45-18
In Monroe: Louisiana leads 16-14
Fant-Ewing Coliseum: Louisiana leads 8-4
Series Streak: Louisiana - won 2
Last Meeting: Louisiana 61, La.-Monroe 46 (Fant-Ewing Coliseum // Feb. 26, 2011)
Noteworthy: Schools split the first 14 meetings (1953-60). Since then, UL has won 38 of the last 49 meetings to take today's commanding 45-18 series lead.

LOUISIANA
11-12 Record____________________     11-11
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________       5-3
Last Game______________________     Jan. 25, 2012
                                                                             vs. North Texas W, 64-62
Head Coach____________________       Bob Marlin
   UL Record____________________       25-26 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________      373-192 (19^th Season)
   Marlin vs. La.-Monroe__________          13-3
Web Site_______________________     www.RaginCajuns.com

LA.-MONROE
11-12 Record____________________     2-19
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________       1-7
Last Game______________________     Jan. 21, 2012
                                                                            at Troy L, 63-91
Head Coach____________________       Keith Richard
   La.-Monroe Record____________          9-43 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________      159-160 (11^th Season)
   Richard vs. UL_________________       5-8
Web Site_______________________     www.ULMWarhawks.com

Game Night Story Lines
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team closes out the month of January traveling to Monroe to face La.-Monroe on Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Cajuns and Warhawks are scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. or 30 minutes following the women's game.
>>> Wednesday's contest with North Texas marked the midway point of the Sun Belt schedule for Louisiana. Starting at La.-Monroe on Saturday, the Cajuns have just eight league games remaining.
>>> UL has an opportunity to move its overall record above .500 and stay one game behind the Denver-UALR winner in the Sun Belt West race.
>>> Saturday's game with the Warhawks marks the first of two meetings this season. La.-Monroe returns the visit in the regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 25.
>>> A win would improve the Cajuns to 6-3 in Sun Belt play which would mark the best record through nine league games since 2004-05 (7-2 after nine SBC contests).
>>> Both head coaches are familiar with the opposition. UL head coach Bob Marlin faced the Warhawks 14 times at Sam Houston State in Southland Conference games. La.-Monroe head coach Keith Richard met the Cajuns 11 times during his tenure at La. Tech.
>>> Bryant Mbamalu is averaging 15.0 points per game and shooting 63 percent (17-of-27) the past three games. He poured in a season-high 19 in a key Sun Belt win over North Texas on Wednesday at the Cajundome.
>>> UL leads the Sun Belt averaging 41.1 rebounds per game in conference play. The Cajuns tied a season-high with 52 boards at UALR.
>>> In SBC play, the Cajuns have held opponents to 37.5% shooting including a meager 23.7% (28-of-118) from 3-point range. UL ranks second in the league behind only Middle Tennessee (35.8%) in field goal percentage defense in conference play.
>>> The Cajuns have shot the ball well this season, shooting 40 percent or higher in 15 of 22 contests.

TRADING DRESS SHOES FOR SNEAKERS
>>> Bob Marlin and staff is participating in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend which is being held around the nation Friday-Sunday, Jan. 27-29.
>>> Cajuns' coaches, along with participating NABC member coaches from around the country, will wear sneakers with their suits to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society.
>>> Fans may support this cause by texting COACH to 20222 from any wireless phone to make a $5 donation toward Coaches vs. Cancer and help in the search for the cure.

GREAT PLAN VS. NORTH TEXAS
>>> Key to the Cajuns victory over North Texas on Wednesday was getting forward Tony Mitchell in foul trouble which limited him to 17 minutes of action.
>>> Mitchell scored 11, but picked up eight of those points over the final seven minutes. He entered the contest averaging 27.5 minutes per game.

WINNING THE IMPORTANT ONES
>>> Head-to-head matchups with Sun Belt West division will play a key factor in the race for the division title. Louisiana is currently 2-1 in the first round of division play.
>>> The Denver game (Feb. 2) represents the finish of the first round of SBC West games. UL starts the second round of SBC tilts on Thursday, Feb. 9 vs. UALR at the Cajundome.

BROTHERLY LOVE
>>> Saturday's contest marks the first matchup of brothers from California both playing collegiate ball in the state of Louisiana this season.
>>> Darshawn McClellan is the Cajuns leader in three-point field goal percentage (41.7%). Steven McClellan is the Warhawks' third-leading scorer (9.4 ppg) and is shooting 51%.
>>> The McClellan brothers are products of Edison High School in Fresno, Calif.

BALANCED EFFORT
>>> Seven different players have already scored 100-plus for the Cajuns this season.
>>> UL has had a different leading scorer the last five games. Prior to the current stretch, the Cajuns had a different leading scorer in five consecutive games.
>>> Seven different players average 20-plus minutes on a consistent basis.

LAST TIME VS. LA-MONROE IN FANT-EWING (Feb. 26, 2011 – UL won 61-46)
>>> UL put the finishing touches on its 11-game winning streak and captured a share of the Sun Belt West division title with a 61-46 victory in the 2010-11 regular season finale.
>>> Six different Cajuns each hit a three-pointer in the first half to help the Cajuns grab an 11-point lead after 20 minutes (led 31-20 at halftime).
>>> After La.-Monroe scored the first five points of the second half, the Cajuns countered with 10 straight to build a 41-25 advantage with 15:20 left to play.
>>> The Cajuns had it in cruise control the rest of the half. An inside basket by J.J. Thomas saw the Cajuns lead hit 20 points, 58-38, with 4:23 remaining.

A CONSISTENT THREAT FROM THREE
>>> Darshawn McClellan ranks Top 10 in the SBC in three-point field goal percentage (41.7%). He leads the Cajuns with 25 made three-point field goals (25-of-60).

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 tells the story.
>>> In Sun Belt play, Louisiana ranks second in field goal percentage defense (37.5%) and defensive rebounds (27.5 drpg) and leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense (23.7%), total rebounds (41.1 rpg), and blocked shots (5.9 bpg).

GETTING DEFENSIVE
>>> UL has held the opposition to 70 points or less in regulation 10 of the last 12 games. The streak dates back to the Dec. 12 contest vs. Dillard.

A SPECIAL WEAPON
>>> The UL bench has outscored the opponents bench in all but seven games this season.
>>> UL's bench has reached 30-plus points on eight different occasions which includes three times above 40 (at San Francisco, vs. Nicholls State, vs. Dillard).
>>> On average, the Cajuns bench is outscoring the opposition's bench 27.2 to 22.4.

SERIES HISTORY (Louisiana leads 45-18, overall; Louisiana leads 8-4 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum)
>>> The two in-state rivals meet as Sun Belt Conference opponents for the 11^th time in regular season action. Louisiana holds an 8-2 edge in Sun Belt regular season meetings.
>>> The Cajuns have swept the season series the last two years and haven't loss to La.-Monroe in the regular season since Feb. 12, 2009 (L, 69-73 at Fant-Ewing).
>>> Saturday's game will mark the 13^th meeting in Fant-Ewing Coliseum (opened in 1971-72). The Cajuns are 8-4 in Ewing Coliseum (3-2 in Sun Belt play).
>>> The home team has dominated in the series, winning 42 of the 60 games played on one of the school's home courts. UL has won 26 straight in Lafayette vs. La.-Monroe.
>>> Schools split the first 14 meetings (1953-60). Since then, UL has won 38 of the last 49 meetings to take today's commanding 45-18 series lead.
>>> Prior to first meeting as SBC foes on Dec. 30, 2006, schools hadn't played since the 1990-91 season.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
>>> Louisiana returns to the Cajundome for another key Sun Belt West division contest hosting Denver on Thursday, Feb. 2. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
>>> The Cajuns (5-3 SBC) and Pioneers (6-2 SBC) are currently separated by one game in the SBC West standings. Depending on this Saturday's outcomes, it could be a battle for first place.
>>> UL has not lost a game to a SBC West foe at the Cajundome since the 2008-09 season. The Cajuns are 11-1 all-time at the 'Dome vs. the Pioneers.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Men's Hoops Closes Out January in Monroe

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