MBB Game 22 Preview: vs. Troy

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team wraps up a two-game homestand on Saturday when it plays host to defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champion Troy at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9 FM and ESPN 1420 AM. A live stream of the game will be available at RaginCajuns.com.

In a 76-57 win over South Alabama on Thursday, Louisiana (18-3, 8-0 SBC) won its 13th consecutive game at home dating back to a 100-88 loss to Troy (9-12, 3-5 SBC) on Feb. 17, 2017. The Ragin' Cajuns, who have won 14 straight SBC games dating back to last season, received a career-high 21 points from Malik Marquetti and 16 points from JaKeenan Gant in earning the win over the Jaguars.

Bryce Washington, who moved into fourth-place on the all-time Sun Belt Conference list with 976 rebounds, grabbed 16 boards in the game with Frank Bartley chipping in with 11 points.

Troy, which claimed the SBC Tournament crown last season as the No. 6 seed, dropped a 76-71 decision at ULM on Thursday despite 22 points from Wesley Person. Person, who became the all-time leading scorer in Trojans history, averages 19.3 points per game to lead the team with Jordan Varnado averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.

GAME 22: Louisiana (18-3, 8-0 SBC) vs. Troy (9-12, 3-5 SBC)
Date / Time: January 27, 2018 / 2 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)

TV/Internet: RaginCajuns.com (FREE)
Talent: Dan McDonald

Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB

Series History: Louisiana leads, 14-6
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 7-2
In Mobile: South Alabama leads 6-2
Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Current streak: Troy +1

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 146-107 (eighth season), Career Record: 494-273 (25th season)

TROY
Head Coach: Phil Cunningham (Campbellsville, 1990)
Record at Troy: 61-88 (fifth season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana looks to post a perfect record in the month of January for the first time since the 1999-2000 season when the Ragin' Cajuns posted a 9-0 mark en route to a school-record 25 wins on the season.
• The Ragin' Cajuns 8-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play is the first in school history.
• Louisiana's 10-0 record at home to start the season is the ninth time in school history to post a double-digit win streak
• The 10-0 start is tied for the second-longest since moving to the Cajundome in 1985. Louisiana opened 10-0 in both 1989-90 and 2002-02 with 11-0 at home in 2015-16.
• Louisiana looks to build on its best 21-game start since opening 19-2 in the 1972-73 season.
• Louisiana's current eight-game win streak is tied for the ninth-longest among Division I schools.
• Louisiana's 14 consecutive SBC victories dating back to last season is the longest streak in school history.
• Louisiana's 13-game homecourt win streak dates back to last season after a 100-88 loss to Troy on Feb. 11, 2017.

QUICK HITS
• Bryce Washington is fourth among active Division I players in total rebounds (976), tied for sixth in career double-doubles (34) and is 31st in career field goal percentage (.571).
• Washington moved into fourth-place on the Sun Belt Conference all-time rebounding list, passing former Old Dominion standout Kenny Gattison (963, 1982-86) with 16 boards against South Alabama.
• Louisiana is one of six schools nationally (as of Jan. 25) that have won six or more games on the road and are undefeated at home. The Ragin' Cajuns are joined by Vermont, Nevada, St. Mary's, Montana and Villanova.
• Since the 2013-14 season, Louisiana has recorded 83 games with 80 or more points scored - the fifth-most by any Division I school during that span and trailing North Carolina (98), BYU (96), Duke (91) and Gonzaga (91).
• Bryce Washington is one of four Division I players to average a double-double during the past two seasons joining Angel Delgado (Seton Hall), Alize Johnson (Missouri State) and James Thompson IV (Eastern Michigan).
• JaKeenan Gant is one of two Division I players currently averaging 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shooting over 60 percent from the floor joining Ajdin Peneva of Marshall.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS
• Troy dropped a 76-71 contest at ULM on Thursday as the Warhawks erased a 15-point deficit with 18:56 remaining in the game.
• Wesley Person, the all-time leading scorer at Troy, scored 22 points to lead the Trojans with Alex Hicks posting a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• Person, the all-time SBC leader in 3-pointers made, leads Troy in scoring at 19.3 points per game with Jordan Varnado averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.
• The Trojans are 2-6 overall in games decided by five points or less, including one-point setbacks against Texas State and Coastal Carolina.

NEXT UP
• Louisiana will open a three-game road trip beginning next Saturday (Feb. 3) against ULM in a 2 p.m. game at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Ragin' Cajuns will continue their road swing the following week with games at Georgia State (Feb. 8) and Georgia Southern (Feb. 10) before returning home to face Texas State on Feb. 15.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Frank Bartley

JaKeenan Gant

Malik Marquetti

Bryce Washington

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