@RaginCajunsMBB Game 20 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 Sun Belt Conference rival Troy 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 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 (12-7, 3-3 SBC) opened its homestand on Thursday with a hard-fought 88-84 victory over South Alabama behind 28 points from JaKeenan Gant. P.J. Hardy added 18 points for the Ragin' Cajuns with Jerekius Davis scoring 17 and Cedric Russell a season-high 15.

Gant, who is third overall in scoring (20.9) in the Sun Belt Conference, has continued his torrid start to conference play. The 6-foot-8 senior is the lone player in Division I averaging over 30 points in conference action and he leads all SBC players in rebounds (9.7) since the beginning of league play.

Troy (10-9, 3-4 SBC) dropped a 75-69 decision at ULM on Thursday despite a game-high 29 points from Jordon Varnado. Alex Hicks added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Trojans with Javan Johnson adding 12 points.

Varnado is second in the SBC in scoring (21.1) during the season and is sixth in rebounds (7.6).

GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (12-7, 3-3 SBC) vs. TROY (10-9, 3-4 SBC)
Date / Time: January 26, 2019 / 7 p.m. CT
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)

RADIO/TV
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/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Social Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 16-6
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 8-4
In Troy: Louisiana leads, 7-2
Neutral: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Streak: Louisiana +2

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 167-118 (ninth season), Career Record: 515-284 (26th season)

TROY
Head Coach: Phil Cunningham (Campbellsville, 1990)
Record at Troy: 78-102 (sixth season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana is taking part in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers® Week (January 21-27, 2019), a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer, and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer.
• Louisiana's JaKeenan Gant (30.2) and Troy's Jordon Varnado (28.8) are the top two scorers since the beginning of Sun Belt Conference play.
• Varnado (21.1) and Gant (20.9) are the second and third-leading scorers in the Sun Belt Conference in 2018-19.
• Gant (8.3) and Justin Miller (7.3) are the fourth and seventh-leading rebounders in the SBC with Alex Hicks (7.9) and Varnado (7.6) ranked fourth and fifth.

QUICK HITS
• P.J. Hardy became the sixth different player for Louisiana in 2018-19 to score 20 or more points in a game and the seventh player on the roster with a 20-point game in their Ragin' Cajuns career.
• Hardy, JaKeenan Gant, Malik Marquetti, Marcus Stroman, Jerekius Davis and Justin Miller have all scored 20+ points in a game in 2018-19. Cedric Russell scored a career-high 20 last season vs. Savannah State.
• Gant is the lone Division I player averaging 30 points in conference games during the 2018-19 season.
• Gant is the lone DI player averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks during the 2018-19 season.
• Tonight's game is the 800th game for Bob Marlin as a head coach. He is 515-284 in his 26th season as a head coach that includes stops at Pensacola Junior College and Sam Houston State.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are officially 260-182 in Sun Belt Conference play and 94-58 under head coach Bob Marlin.
• Louisiana's 88-84 victory over South Alabama was its first win on Thursday during the 2018-19 season. The Ragin' Cajuns were 0-2 (vs. Arkansas State, at Georgia State) on "Must See Thursday."

SCOUTING TROY
• Troy has been up-and-down since the beginning of Sun Belt Conference play after a 75-69 loss at ULM on Thursday. The Trojans won four straight games prior to SBC play, highlighted by wins over Western Kentucky and UAB.
• Jordon Varnado, the SBC's second-leading scorer, leads Troy in scoring at 21.1 points per game with Alex Hicks (11.8) and BJ Miller (10.4) averaging in double figures. Hicks pulls down 7.9 rebounds per game to rank fifth in the league.
• On the season, Troy is averaging 76.6 points per game and leads the SBC in blocks (4.9).

AT HOME IN THE DOME
• In eight of the past nine seasons, Louisiana has won 10 or more games in the Cajundome, highlighted by a single-season record tying 14 victories in 2017-18.
• Louisiana is 6-2 overall at the Cajundome in 2018-19.
• Since opening in 1985-86, Louisiana has posted a 335-127 record in the Cajundome and is 97-29 under head coach Bob Marlin.

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.

CAJUNS CARE TICKET INITIATIVE
• Help Louisiana Athletics continue to give back! After a successful start during the 2018 football season, the Cajuns Care program will allow Ragin' Cajuns fans the opportunity to purchase Louisiana men's basketball season tickets for $20.
• Tickets purchased through the Cajuns Care program will be donated to local charitable and philanthropic initiatives, including Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana, the United Way and area military servicemen and servicewomen.
• Fans and supporters of Louisiana men's basketball can find the option to purchase Cajuns Care season tickets online, by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome (337-265-2357) or visiting in-person.

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 20 Preview: vs. Troy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jerekius Davis

JaKeenan Gant

P.J. Hardy

Malik Marquetti

Justin Miller

Cedric Russell

Marcus Stroman

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics