MBB Game 22 Preview: Arkansas State

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team returns to the Cajundome on Thursday when it plays host to Sun Belt Conference rival Arkansas State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and will follow the women's game between UL and A-State that begins at 5 p.m.

The men's game can be heard in the Lafayette area on both Hot 107.9 and ESPN 1420-AM, along with RaginCajuns.com.

Louisiana (13-8, 9-3 Sun Belt), which has won its last eight games since a 71-69 loss at Arkansas State (11-12, 7-5 Sun Belt) on Jan. 9, earned an 87-76 win at Appalachian State in its last contest. Shawn Long, who became the 20th player in NCAA history to record 2,100 points and 1,300 rebounds in a career, posted his 68th career double-double against the Mountaineers scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Long averages 19.3 points and is third nationally with 12.9 rebounds per game. Kasey Shepherd (11.1), Jay Wright (9.6), Bryce Washington (7.9), Johnathan Stove (7.9) and Hayward Register (6.8) are next in scoring for the Ragin' Cajuns, who lead the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense (82.0).

Arkansas State, under head coach John Brady, has dropped five of its last eight games since defeating the Ragin' Cajuns last month in Jonesboro. Devin Carter, one of four players averaging in double figures for A-State, leads the team in scoring (17.5) followed by Anthony Livingston (15.6), Donte Thomas (11.9) and Sean Gardner (10.6).

GAME 22: Louisiana (13-8, 9-3 Sun Belt) vs. Arkansas State (11-12, 7-5 Sun Belt)
February 11, 2016 | 7:15 p.m. | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (11,500)
TV/Web: None
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @Cajunbasketball; @ULRaginCajuns
Series: UL leads, 47-24 | In Lafayette: UL leads, 27-8 | In Jonesboro: UL leads, 19-16

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 449-251 (23rd season), Record at UL: 101-85 (6th season)

ARKANSAS STATE
Head Coach: John Brady (Belhaven, 1976)
Career Record: 402-337 (25th season), Record at ASU: 121-121 (8th season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana has won its last 13 games at the Cajundome dating back to an 84-69 loss to UT Arlington on Feb. 7, 2015.

• The Ragin' Cajuns will look to win its first 11 games at the Cajundome for the first time since the facility was built.

• Louisiana's eight-game win streak is its longest since reeling off 11 straight wins in 2010-11, Bob Marlin's first year as Cajuns head coach.

• Shawn Long's 16 double-doubles in 2015-16 are tied for sixth nationally among Division I players with LSU's Ben Simmons and Josh Hawkinson of Washington State.

THE SERIES
• Louisiana leads the all-time series against Arkansas State, 47-24, and has won four of the last five meetings. The Ragin' Cajuns are 27-8 against the Red Wolves in games played in Lafayette and have won the last seven games between the schools at the Cajundome dating back to a 73-63 A-State win on Jan. 3, 2008.

THE OPPONENT
• Arkansas State, under head coach John Brady, has dropped five of its last eight games since a 71-69 victory over Louisiana on Jan. 9 in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves knocked off SBC-leader Little Rock on Jan. 18 in Jonesboro and have overtime wins over Georgia State (1/28) and South Alabama (2/4). Devin Carter (17.5 ppg) is one of four players scoring in double figures for A-State, followed by Anthony Livingston (15.6), Donte Thomas (11.9) and Sean Gardner (10.6).

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will close out its brief two-game homestand on Saturday (Feb. 13) when it plays host to SBC-leader Little Rock in a 4:15 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana's 10-0 record at the Cajundome equals the best 10-game start since the 2002-03 team won its first 10 games and finished with a 10-1 record.

• Beginning with a 12-0 record at home during the 1971-72 season, Louisiana has opened the season with 10 or more consecutive wins at home eight times, and includes 1972-73 (13), 1977-78 (13), 1978-79 (11), 1982-83 (11), 1989-90 (10), 2002-03 (10) and 2015-16 (10).

• During the Ragin' Cajuns eight-game winning streak, they have outscored their opponents by an average of 16.8 points per game.

• During head coach Bob Marlin's tenure as head coach, Louisiana is 39-18 in combined games played in the months of February and March, including a 23-7 record during the last three seasons.

• Louisiana is 18th in scoring offense (82.0) and 20th among Division I schools in rebound margin (+8.1).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shawn Long

Hayward Register

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

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