@RaginCajunsMBB Game 9 Preview: vs. Loyola

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team will take a break from final exams on Wednesday when it plays host to in-state opponent Loyola of New Orleans at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (PxP) and Eric Mouton (color) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KHXT-FM (107.9), ESPN 1420 AM and worldwide on RaginCajuns.com with Jay Walker (PxP) and Ross Cook (color) providing the commentary.

Louisiana (5-3) claimed an 88-78 victory over Southern in its last contest on Saturday, playing its first game on its home floor since Nov. 6. The win was Louisiana's 19th straight at home during the month of December with the Ragin' Cajuns improving to 25-2 overall during the month at home under Bob Marlin.

JaKeenan Gant (17.3 ppg.), Malik Marquetti (13.1), Justin Miller (11.6) and Marcus Stroman (10.6) are the top four scorers for Louisiana with Gant pulling down a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.

NAIA member Loyola (5-3), playing its third exhibition game against NCAA Division I competition, have picked up wins over cross-town rivals Dillard, Xavier and Southern-New Orleans, along with a 109-100 win over the University of the Virgin Islands.

In its games against DI schools, the Wolf Pack earned a 79-78 exhibition win at McNeese on Nov. 16 and dropped an 85-74 decision to Tulane on Nov. 1.

Tickets are available on-line at RaginCajuns.com and the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome.

GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (5-3) vs. SOUTHERN (5-3)
Date / Time: December 5, 2018 / 7 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)

Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (PxP); Ross Cook (color)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP), Eric Mouton (color)

Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Social Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 17-16
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 8-6
In New Orleans: Loyola leads, 7-2
Unknown Sites: Louisiana leads, 7-3
Streak: Louisiana +5

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 160-114 (ninth season), Career Record: 508-280 (26th season)

LOYOLA
Head Coach: Stacy Hollowell (St. Edwards, 2001)
Record at Loyola: 74-52 (fifth season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana is playing the fourth of four consecutive games against in-state opponents and the third of nine straight games within the state.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have won their last 16 games at home against in-state opponents dating back to Jan. 19, 2015.
• Louisiana has won 15 straight games at home against all non-conference opponents since March 23, 2016.
• Marcus Stroman's 264 assists at Louisiana are the 24th most by a Ragin' Cajun in school history. Stroman is four assists shy of tying Drexal Allen (268, 1983-86) for 23rd place and 13 from cracking the top-20 on the Ragin' Cajuns career list.
• JaKeenan Gant is one of two players nationally, joining Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke, averaging at least 17 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in 2018-19.
• Stroman is one of six players nationally that averages at least 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals per game.

QUICK HITS
• JaKeenan Gant is one of four players from the Sun Belt Conference and 49 players nationally named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award is presented to the top mid-major player in Division I.
• Louisiana's 11 blocks against Southern is the 10th-best mark in the nation through Dec. 2.
• Louisiana has won its last 19 games at home during the month of December and is 25-2 overall under head coach Bob Marlin.
• After opening the season 20-for-33 (.606) from the free throw line in its first two games, Louisiana is converting at a 77.4 clip (106-for-137) in its last six contests.
• Gant is ranked in the top-10 nationally in both total blocks (7th, 25) and blocks per game (9th, 3.1).
• Stroman is ranked in the top-25 nationally in four categories: total steals (12th, 21), steals per game (12th, 2.6), total assists (19th, 51) and assists per game (24th, 6.4).
• Louisiana's 77-73 overtime win at New Orleans on Nov. 28 marked the 18th time in the Bob Marlin era the Ragin' Cajuns have battled back from a double-digit deficit. The Ragin' Cajuns trailed by 14 points in the first half before marking their second-largest comeback since 2010-11 and the third-largest dating back to the 2001-02 season.

SCOUTING LOYOLA
• Loyola, which is playing tonight's game as an exhibition, earned a 95-80 win over Brewton-Parker (Ga.) College on Saturday to improve to 5-3 on the season. The Wolf Pack have picked up wins over cross-town rivals Dillard, Xavier and Southern-New Orleans, along with a 109-100 win over the University of the Virgin Islands.
• The Wolf Pack also earned a 79-78 exhibition win at McNeese on Nov. 16 and dropped an 85-74 decision to Tulane on Nov. 1.
• Freshman Zach Wrightsil leads an up-tempo Loyola squad in scoring at 17.8 points per game with freshman Myles Burns (15.4), Terry Smith, Jr. (14.4) and freshman Cameron Dumas (13.1) next.
• The Wolf Pack enters tonight's game averaging 91.1 points per game through their eight countable games.

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
• Season tickets, beginning at $100, are available online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2357.
• All current UL faculty and staff, along with recent graduates (within the last five years), can purchase season tickets at a 50-percent discount to cheer on the Ragin' Cajuns during the 2018-19 season at the Cajundome.
• The special package will allow recent graduates of Louisiana to purchase tickets in sections 101-103. Discounts will be applied upon confirmation of graduate status by the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office.

GET YOUR PASSPORT
• The game against Southern is part of the "Louisiana Passport," which will recognize Ragin' Cajuns fans who attend all eight of Louisiana's scheduled games against in-state opponents during the 2018-19 season.
• Each game, beginning with the Ragin' Cajuns Nov. 28 game at New Orleans, fans will get their passport stamped at a location to be determined. In-state games for the Ragin' Cajuns include home games against Southern (Dec. 1), Loyola (Dec. 5), Louisiana Tech (Dec. 15) and ULM (Feb. 16), with additional road games slated against McNeese State (Dec. 18), Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 29) and ULM (Jan. 19).
• At Louisiana's game against ULM at the Cajundome on Feb. 16, those who have a completed passport with eight stamps will be recognized on the court at some point during the game.
• For more information on tickets, contact the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2357. For information concerning parking, contact the RCAF at (337) 851-2903.

FOLLOW THE CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsMBB), Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsMBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Men's Basketball.

@RaginCajunsMBB Game 9 Preview: vs. Loyola

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Players Mentioned

JaKeenan Gant

Malik Marquetti

Justin Miller

Marcus Stroman

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