University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Wednesday, December 18
Jonesboro, Ark.
7 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
5-6,0-1Sun Belt
67
at
79
Arkansas State
8-3,1-0Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 35 | 32 | 67 |
| Arkansas State | 37 | 42 | 79 |
Louisiana Falls In Foul-Plagued Sun Belt Opener At A-State, 79-67
12/18/2019 11:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Ragin' Cajuns host Little Rock on Saturday to start four-game homestand
JONESBORO, Ark. – Marquis Eaton scored a game-high 24 points to lead three players in double figures and Arkansas State held off the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, 79-67, in a foul-plagued Sun Belt Conference men's basketball opener for both teams on Wednesday at First National Bank Arena.
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Caleb Fields came off the bench to add 18 points with Jerry Johnson, Jr., adding 11 as Arkansas State (8-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) snapped a two-game losing streak at home to Louisiana (5-6, 0-1 Sun Belt).
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In a game that saw a combined 59 fouls, including 10 technical fouls, Arkansas State used a 9-1 run late in the game to pull away after Cedric Russell's bucket with 6:03 remaining got Louisiana to within 64-61.
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The Ragin' Cajuns would miss nine of their final 10 attempts from the floor, including six of their final seven after Russell picked up his second technical foul with 3:55 remaining with Louisiana trailing, 68-63.
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Louisiana, which was called for one technical foul through the first 10 games of the 2019-20 season while being whistled for a total of seven during the entire 2018-19 campaign, were called for seven alone with Jalen Johnson, Dou Gueye, P.J. Hardy, Trajan Wesley and the Louisiana bench all picking up fouls.
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The Ragin' Cajuns trailed 23-12 in the first half and closed to within 37-35 at halftime as Russell scored 12 of his team-high 16 points. Louisiana would trail 43-37 with 18:01 remaining before going on a 7-0 run that was capped by a free throw by Tirus Smith at the 16:45 mark.
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But a bucket by Fields with 16:04 left would start a 7-0 run by the Red Wolves, who would take the lead for good and not let Louisiana get closer than three (64-61) the rest of the way.
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Russell led Louisiana, which was whistled for 31 fouls, with 16 points. Smith, making his first start for Louisiana, added a season-high 15 points and a career-high tying eight rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns with Mylik Wilson adding 12 points and Johnson 10.
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Louisiana will return to action on Saturday when it hosts Little Rock at the Cajundome at 7 p.m. The game will be the first of a four-game homestand for the Ragin' Cajuns that will also see games against UC Santa Barbara (Dec. 29), South Alabama (Jan. 2) and Troy (Jan. 4).
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Season tickets for the 2019-20 campaign are currently on sale at the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, by phone at (337) 265-2357, or on-line at RaginCajuns.com/MBBTix.
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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.
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Caleb Fields came off the bench to add 18 points with Jerry Johnson, Jr., adding 11 as Arkansas State (8-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) snapped a two-game losing streak at home to Louisiana (5-6, 0-1 Sun Belt).
Â
In a game that saw a combined 59 fouls, including 10 technical fouls, Arkansas State used a 9-1 run late in the game to pull away after Cedric Russell's bucket with 6:03 remaining got Louisiana to within 64-61.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns would miss nine of their final 10 attempts from the floor, including six of their final seven after Russell picked up his second technical foul with 3:55 remaining with Louisiana trailing, 68-63.
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Louisiana, which was called for one technical foul through the first 10 games of the 2019-20 season while being whistled for a total of seven during the entire 2018-19 campaign, were called for seven alone with Jalen Johnson, Dou Gueye, P.J. Hardy, Trajan Wesley and the Louisiana bench all picking up fouls.
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The Ragin' Cajuns trailed 23-12 in the first half and closed to within 37-35 at halftime as Russell scored 12 of his team-high 16 points. Louisiana would trail 43-37 with 18:01 remaining before going on a 7-0 run that was capped by a free throw by Tirus Smith at the 16:45 mark.
Â
But a bucket by Fields with 16:04 left would start a 7-0 run by the Red Wolves, who would take the lead for good and not let Louisiana get closer than three (64-61) the rest of the way.
Â
Russell led Louisiana, which was whistled for 31 fouls, with 16 points. Smith, making his first start for Louisiana, added a season-high 15 points and a career-high tying eight rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns with Mylik Wilson adding 12 points and Johnson 10.
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Louisiana will return to action on Saturday when it hosts Little Rock at the Cajundome at 7 p.m. The game will be the first of a four-game homestand for the Ragin' Cajuns that will also see games against UC Santa Barbara (Dec. 29), South Alabama (Jan. 2) and Troy (Jan. 4).
Â
Season tickets for the 2019-20 campaign are currently on sale at the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, by phone at (337) 265-2357, or on-line at RaginCajuns.com/MBBTix.
Â
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.
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Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
LA
ASU
FG%
.375
.500
3FG%
.250
.286
FT%
.700
.659
RB
36
37
TO
14
13
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
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