MBB Game 17 Preview: Troy

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday when it plays host to Troy in a Sun Belt Conference game at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and will follow the women's game that starts at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN3 and can be heard in the Lafayette area on Hot 107.9-FM and on the internet at RaginCajuns.com.

Saturday's doubleheader with Troy will be a "Red Out." All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear red. The doubleheader is also "Take a Kid to the Game" where all children, ages 11 and under who are accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket receive free admission.

During halftime of the men's game, one UL student will be selected to shoot a halfcourt shot for $10,000.

Louisiana (8-8, 4-3 SBC) claimed its third straight victory after earning a 92-82 win over South Alabama on Thursday. Kasey Shepherd set a career-high with 27 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead six players in double figures.

Hayward Register added 13 points for Louisiana, which was playing its first of a season-high five-game stretch at home. Bryce Washington added 12 points for the Ragin' Cajuns with Shawn Long adding 11, Johnathan Stove 10 and Jay Wright 10.

Long, who is two points shy of becoming the sixth player in Ragin' Cajuns and Sun Belt Conference history to record 2,000 points, leads Louisiana in scoring (19.5), rebounds (12.5) and is second in the SBC in blocked shots (1.6).

Shepherd is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game, is second in the league in free throw percentage (.870), and is tied for third in steals (1.8).

GAME 17: Louisiana (8-8, 4-3 Sun Belt) vs. Troy (6-12, 1-6 Sun Belt)
January 23, 2016 | 6:30 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,550)
TV/Web: ESPN3 | Drew Fellios (PBP), Bob Donewald (Color), Kati Morse (Sideline)
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball
Series: UL leads, 12-5 | In Lafayette: UL leads, 6-3 | In Troy: UL leads, 5-2

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 444-251 (23rd season), Record at UL: 96-85 (6th season)

TROY
Head Coach: Phil Cunningham (Campbellsville, 1990)
Career Record: 27-51 (3rd season), Record at Troy: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana continues its season-long, five-game homestand tonight as it faces Troy at the Cajundome. The five-game homestand is the Ragin' Cajuns longest since a period from Dec. 8-29, 1997 under then first-year coach Jessie Evans.

• Shawn Long is two points shy of becoming the sixth player in Ragin' Cajuns and Sun Belt Conference history to score 2,000 in a career.

• The Ragin' Cajuns are second in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (81.6) and rebounding margin (+7.6).

• Louisiana has won the last five games in the series against Troy, including four straight games at the Cajundome.

THE SERIES
Tonight's meeting is the 18th between the schools with Louisiana holding a 12-5 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last five meetings in the series – the longest by either team in the series – and have won four straight at the Cajundome dating back to the 2009-10 season.

THE OPPONENT
Troy enters tonight's game against the Ragin' Cajuns at 6-12 overall after an 85-74 loss at ULM on Thursday. The Trojans have earned wins over Division I opponents South Florida, North Texas, Southern Miss and Texas State while dropping five games this season by five points or less. Wesley Person leads Troy in scoring (16.8) with John Walton III averaging a team-best 7.9 rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Ragin' Cajuns will continue their homestand on Thursday (Jan. 28) against Texas State at 7:15 p.m. before hosting UT Arlington (Jan. 30) and closing out the homestand on Feb. 2 against ULM.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana is allowing 69.7 points per game - ranking fifth overall - since the start of Sun Belt Conference play.
• Kasey Shepherd's 27 points on Thursday vs. South Alabama were the most points scored by a Ragin' Cajun this season.
• Louisiana's 47 free throw attempts and 34 free throws made against South Alabama were the most by a Sun Belt Conference team in 2015-16.
• Troy's John Walton III (19, vs. Paine College) and Louisiana's Shawn Long (18 vs. Georgia State) have the top two rebound totals among Sun Belt Conference players in 2015-16.
• Long is the first player in school history to grab 200 rebounds in four straight seasons.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Hayward Register

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

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