Louisiana, McNeese Renew Hardwood Rivalry on Saturday

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball team returns to action at the Cajundome on Saturday when it faces I-10 rival McNeese State in the final tuneup prior to Sun Belt Conference play.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and former Ragin' Cajuns point guard Eric Mouton (color) on the call. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on both KPEL 96.5 FM and ESPN 1420 AM with Jay Walker providing the commentary. Live stats will be available at CajunStats.com.

Louisiana (5-1) extended its win streak to five games on Tuesday with a 73-63 victory over former Sun Belt rival New Orleans. The Ragin' Cajuns picked up the game against McNeese (4-2) after having its originally-scheduled Dec. 18 game at VCU canceled.

Cedric Russell (18.3), Mylik Wilson and Theo Akwuba (12.3) enter as Louisiana's top scorers during the 2020-21 season with Akwuba leading the Sun Belt Conference in rebounds (11.7) and blocked shots (3.0).

The game against McNeese will be the 96^th between the schools dating back to 1951 with Louisiana holding a 60-35 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last five meetings in the series, including an 85-80 win in last year's contest at the Cajundome.

Season-ticket holders can download their tickets through mobile ticketing from Ticketmaster. Fans can download the #GeauxCajuns app to their smart phone to begin the process. Season-ticket holders who are unable to download tickets or wish to have printed can visit the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome to have them printed.

For more information on Men's Basketball tickets, fans can call the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2170.

The Cajundome will operate at a significantly reduced capacity for the 2020-21 season (unless state COVID-19 policy changes during the season). This will allow for fans and University students to be accommodated this season. The Department of Athletics will quickly communicate any schedule adjustments or changes to attendance protocols through its social media channels and RaginCajuns.com.

In the interest of public safety and following the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) Best Practices Guide, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics Department is implementing a clear bag policy at all venues that host ticketed events effective with the 2020-21 competition season. Information about the clear bag policy can be found by visiting www.RaginCajuns.com/clearbag.

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.

GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (5-1) vs. MCNEESE STATE (4-2)
Date / Time: December 19, 2020 / 7 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)

RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP), Eric Mouton (color)
Radio: KPEL 96.5 / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (PxP)

LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 60-35
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 38-13
In Lake Charles: McNeese leads, 22-21
Neutral: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Streak: Louisiana +5
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 85-80 (Nov. 9, 2019 at Lafayette)

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 193-144 (11^th season), Career Record: 541-309 (28th season)

MCNEESE STATE
Head Coach: Heath Schroyer (Armstrong State, 1995)
Record at McNeese: 28-41 (third season), Career Record: 155-190 (12th season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana and McNeese continue their I-10 rivalry for the 96th time on the hardwood.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last five overall meetings in the all-time series and have won six straight in games played in Lafayette dating back to 2008.
• The schools have played every year since 1998.
• The game is Louisiana's final tuneup before opening Sun Belt Conference play against Texas State on Jan. 1-2, 2021 at the Cajundome.
• Louisiana is playing the fifth of nine straight games at home which continues with four straight games (Texas State, Little Rock) to open Sun Belt Conference play.
• The game is the sixth of six consecutive games for Louisiana against in-state opponents.
• Against in-state, non-conference opponents played at home under head coach Bob Marlin, Louisiana is 32-1 overall.
• Louisiana is 51-10 in non-conference games at home in the Marlin era including a 24-2 mark since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
• A victory would increase Louisiana's win streak to six games, the longest since winning a season-high six straight games late in the Sun Belt Championship 2017-18 season.
• Cedric Russell is four 3-pointers shy of tying Michael Allen (208, 1991-94) for sixth place in school history.

QUICK HITS
• Since Bob Marlin became head coach in 2010, Louisiana is 44-30 overall in games played in the month of December.
• Louisiana's 16-point deficit in the second half of an eventual 61-56 win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday equaled the second-largest comeback victory in the Bob Marlin era.
• Louisiana's 68 rebounds against LSU-A on Dec. 8 are the most by a Sun Belt school in 2020-21 and third nationally behind Murray State (79 vs. Greenville) and Georgia Tech (70, vs. Georgia State).
• Mylik Wilson is one of four players nationally - and three from the Sun Belt Conference (Markquis Nowell of Little Rock, DeVante Jones of Coastal Carolina) - averaging at least 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Louisiana, McNeese Renew Hardwood Rivalry on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Theo Akwuba

Cedric Russell

Mylik Wilson

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