Louisiana Looks to Rebound From Tough Loss

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
Location: Lafayette, La.
Opponent: Arkansas State (10-16, 4-7 Sun Belt)
Site: Cajundome (11,550)
Game Time: 7:15 p.m.
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KHXT) – Jay Walker, play-by-play
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

LOUISIANA-ASU SERIES
The Series: Louisiana leads 43-21
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads 24-7
In Cajundome: Louisiana leads 16-6
Series Streak: Arkansas State – won 1
Last Meeting: Arkansas State 79, Louisiana 74 (Convocation Center - Jonesboro, Ark. // Jan. 21, 2012)
Noteworthy: Arkansas State won this season's first meeting, 79-74 in Jonesboro. Louisiana has not lost consecutive meetings with ASU since dropping the final meeting of the 1992-93 season and first meeting of the 1993-94 season.

LOUISIANA
11-12 Record____________________     14-12
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________        8-4
Last Game______________________      Feb. 9, 2012
                                                                              vs. UALR L, 70-72 (OT)
Head Coach____________________       Bob Marlin
   UL Record____________________        28-27 (2^nd Season)
   Career Record_________________       376-193 (19^th Season)
   Marlin vs. ASTATE_____________          2-3
Web Site_______________________    www.RaginCajuns.com

ARKANSAS STATE
11-12 Record____________________     10-16
11-12 Sun Belt Record____________      4-7
Last Game______________________     Feb. 9, 2012
                                                                             at South Alabama L, 57-74
Head Coach____________________        John Brady
   ASTATE Record_______________          57-62 (4^th Season)
   Career Record_________________       338-278 (20^th Season)
   Brady vs. UL__________________         6-4
Web Site_______________________     www.AStateRedWolves.com

Game Night Story Lines
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team seeks to gain a measure of revenge against Arkansas State plus remain in the hunt for the Sun Belt West division title and a bye in the opening round of the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
>>> Arkansas State won the season's first meeting 79-74 back on Jan. 21 in Jonesboro. That night the Red Wolves used a 41-31 advantage in rebounds to produce 22 second-chance points.
>>> UL enters Saturday's action trailing SBC West leader UALR by 1-1/2 games. The Trojans face Middle Tennessee at Noon, therefore the Cajuns will know if they're battling to pull within a half game or maintain their distance from the Trojans.
>>> The Cajuns seem to have a flair for the dramatic lately. Five of the last six games have been decided by five points or less. Additionally, the last two games at the Cajundome have gone into overtime.
>>> Louisiana has played four overtime games this season. It's the most overtime games since four were played during the 1991-92 season.
>>> UL hasn't lost back-to-back games since Jan. 7-12 (at Middle Tenn./vs. South Alabama).
>>> In Sun Belt play, Josh Brown is averaging a team-best 12.4 points and team-best 7.6 rebounds per game.
>>> UL has held the opposition to 70 points or less in regulation 13 of the last 16 games.
>>> UL leads the Sun Belt averaging 42.1 rebounds per game in conference play. The Cajuns have collected 40-plus rebounds the last five games and have reached 40-plus in 10 of 12 SBC games this season.
>>> In SBC play, the Cajuns have held opponents to 38.3% shooting including a meager 28.1% (50-of-178) from 3-point range. UL ranks second in the league behind only Middle Tennessee (37.1%) in field goal percentage defense in conference play.
>>> The Cajuns have shot 40 percent or higher in 19 of 26 contests.

NO PLACE LIKE THE 'DOME
>>> The Cajuns have already locked up nine wins in the 14-game slate at the Cajundome this season assuring the 17^th consecutive season with a .500 mark or better in the building.
>>> Including this season, the Cajuns have recorded a winning record in 25 of the 27 years since the Cajundome opened its doors in the 1985-86 season.
>>> Louisiana has turned in a 29-11 record at the Cajundome since the 2009-10 season which includes an impressive 20-3 mark against Sun Belt opponents.

ON TARGET
>>> Bob Marlin-coached teams have won a division title each of the past three seasons. Louisiana enters Saturday's play 1-1/2 games behind SBC West leader UALR.

TAMING THE SUN BELT
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns are 19-9 in Sun Belt action under the direction of Bob Marlin.
>>> Marlin's current SBC win percentage of .679 ranks 11^th all-time in SBC history.

WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS
>>> Freshman Elfrid Payton leads the Cajuns in assists, averages 7.0 points and had dramatic last-second winning plays against Western Kentucky and Denver.
>>> He's done all of this as a 17-year old playing college basketball. Payton will turn 18-years old on Feb. 22 which is three days before the Cajuns regular season finale.

MR. CONSISTENT
>>> It's been a solid debut season for Kadeem Coleby. Since the Beryl Shipley Classic (Nov. 18-20) he's averaged 10.0 points per game or higher and he leads the Sun Belt Conference in field goal percentage at 58.6 percent.
>>> He's picked up at least one blocked shot in all but four games this season which has led to him becoming the first Cajun since 2005-06 with 50-plus blocks (58 actual).

BROWN CLIMBING THE CHARTS
>>> Josh Brown's strong rebounding effort in Sun Belt games (7.6 rpg) has vaulted him into the Top 5 in the Sun Belt in rebounds per game. Averaging 6.5 rebounds per game for the season, Brown is currently fifth in the league.

LAST TIME VS. ARKANSAS STATE (Jan. 21, 2012 – ASU won 79-74 in Jonesboro)
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns shot nearly 60 percent in building a double figure halftime lead (44-34) which offset being outboarded 18-11 in the first half.
>>> UL was held to 38.7 percent (12-of-31) in the second half, surrendered 23 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers. ASU outscored the Cajuns by 15 in the second stanza to rally for the win.
>>> Trey Finn's three-pointer with 5:37 remaining gave ASU the lead at 68-65. UL missed two shots on the ensuing possession and Finn scored a layup at 4:37 to extend the lead to 70-65.
>>> Bryant Mbamalu pulled UL within four points, 76-72, with 36 seconds remaining. Ed Townsel missed the front-end of a one-and-one, but an offensive rebound led to two freebies that stretched the lead to 78-72 with 31 seconds remaining.

BALANCED EFFORT
>>> UL had a different leading scorer each of the six games prior to the Denver matchup.
>>> Louisiana has seven different players averaging at least six points per game.
>>> Seven different players average 20-plus minutes on a consistent basis.

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 (38.3%) and leads the league in defensive rebounds (28.8 drpg), 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.1%), total rebounds (42.1 rpg), and blocked shots (5.3 bpg).

A CONSISTENT THREAT FROM THREE
>>> Darshawn McClellan ranks Top 10 in the SBC in three-point field goal percentage (41.5%). He leads the Cajuns with 27 made three-point field goals (27-of-65).

A SPECIAL WEAPON
>>> The UL bench has outscored the opponents bench in all but eight games this season.
>>> UL's bench has reached 30-plus points on eight different occasions.
>>> On average, the Cajuns bench is outscoring the opposition's bench 26.4 to 21.8.

SERIES HISTORY (Louisiana leads 43-21, overall; Louisiana leads 16-6 in Cajundome)
>>> The two schools meet on the hardwood in the Cajundome for the 23^rd time with UL holding a 16-6 edge. Louisiana has won 12 of the past 14 Cajundome meetings (dates back to '95-96 season). UL is 24-7 all-time at home against ASU (went 8-1 at Blackham Coliseum).
>>> Arkansas State won this season's first meeting, 79-74 in Jonesboro. Louisiana has not lost consecutive meetings with ASU since dropping the final meeting of the 1992-93 season and first meeting of the 1993-94 season.
>>> Series is even at 3-3 since John Brady took over at ASU in 2008-09. The Cajuns are 3-0 vs. ASU at the Cajundome in the Brady Era.
>>> The last three meetings at the Cajundome have been decided by four points or less.
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns lead the series 21-14 since the two teams joined the Sun Belt in 1991-92.
>>> Two schools were members of the American South Conference from 1987-91, establishing a relationship as conference foes which is currently at 25 straight years.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
>>> UL has a crucial two-game road trip with games at Denver (Feb. 16) and North Texas (Feb. 18).
>>> Louisiana is seeking to fend off DU and NT for the bye in the SBC Tournament.
>>> The Cajuns defeated the Mean Green 64-62 on Jan. 25 and the Pioneers 72-71 in overtime on Feb. 2 in the season's first meetings.
>>> UL seeks its first season sweep of Denver since 2006-07 and first season sweep of North Texas since 2004-05.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Louisiana Looks to Rebound From Tough Loss

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics