Resilient Ragin' Cajuns Host Georgia Southern For Louisiana Salutes

LAFAYETTE – Following a thrilling 80-78 come-from-behind victory over Georgia State on Thursday, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball team wraps up a weekend homestand on Saturday when it plays host to Georgia Southern in a Sun Belt Conference game at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9 FM, ESPN 1420 AM and the ESPN 1420 mobile app with Jay Walker on the call. The game will also be available on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (PxP) and former Ragin' Cajuns point guard Eric Mouton (Color) providing commentary. Live results will available at CajunStats.com.

Louisiana (10-14, 5-8 Sun Belt) saw a 15-point, first-half lead against Georgia State turn into a 13-point, second-half deficit before rallying for its fifth comeback win of the season when trailing by double digits. Freshman Mylik Wilson scored 16 points, including the game-winning bucket with 2.1 seconds remaining to lift Louisiana to its second straight at home against its SBC rival.

Jalen Johnson and Cedric Russell scored 17 points each for the Ragin' Cajuns with P.J. Hardy adding 13 while holding GSU's leading scorer – Corey Allen – to seven points below his season-average (15.3) on 4 of 12 shooting.

Georgia Southern (14-10, 8-5 Sun Belt) held on for a 67-65 win over ULM on Thursday behind 24 points from Quan Jackson and 17 from Ike Smith. The Eagles, who lead the league with 8.9 3-pointers made per game, were held to 5-for-20 from long distance against the Warhawks.

The game is "Louisiana Salutes," which honors all veterans, active military and first responders in attendance.

For ticket information, contact the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome, by phone (337) 265-2170 or on-line at RaginCajuns.com/MBBsingle.

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 (10-14, 4-8 Sun Belt) vs. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (14-10, 8-5 Sun Belt)
Date / Time: February 8, 2020 / 7 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)

RADIO/TV
Radio: KHXT FM 107.9 / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (PxP)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP), Eric Mouton (Color)

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

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 7-6
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 4-3
In Statesboro: Tied, 3-3
Streak: Georgia Southern +2

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 184-138 (10th season), Career Record: 532-304 (27th season)

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Head Coach: Mark Byington (UNC Wilmington, 1998)
Record at GS: 125-94 (seventh season), Career Record: 132-98 (eighth season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana has won three of its last five games after a stretch where its injury-riddled roster lost 10 out of 12.
• Louisiana has earned wins this season over McNeese (11/9), Southeastern Louisiana (12/3), Troy (1/4), Appalachian State (1/6) and Georgia State (2/6) after trailing by double-digits.
• During Bob Marlin's tenure at Louisiana, the Ragin' Cajuns are 44-22 overall in the month of February.
• Louisiana is 9-1 overall when scoring 70 points or more this season.
• Louisiana recorded its worst shooting day of the season in both field goal percentage (.286, 18-for-63) and free throw percentage (.455, 10-for-22) in a 71-51 loss at Georgia Southern on Jan. 11.
• The meeting wrapped up a five-game, 10-day stretch for the Ragin' Cajuns with the final three games on the road.
• With 106 career wins in Sun Belt Conference play, head coach Bob Marlin is fourth in league history and is five wins shy of tying former UAB coach Gene Bartow for third place.

QUICK HITS
• Mylik Wilson is the only freshman at the Division I level averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game.
• Wilson leads all Sun Belt Conference freshmen in scoring (11.8), rebounds (5.5) and steals (.2.4).
• Louisiana is +1.2 in rebound margin in Sun Belt Conference games to rank third overall in the league.
• Louisiana is connecting on 82 percent of its free throws (208-for-254) in 12 games at home.
• Louisiana is ranked 38th among Division I schools in free throws made (363) and 53rd nationally in free throw attempts (494).
• Louisiana 19-for-20 performance from the free throw line against Georgia State on Thursday was its second-highest percentage (.950) of the season. The Ragin' Cajuns were 13-for-13 against Texas State on Jan. 18.
• Louisiana is 10-2 overall on the season when shooting above 41 percent from the floor.
• On the season, injuries have cost players on the 2019-20 roster a combined total of 69 games.
• Louisiana has lost three scholarship players (Kobe Julien, Durey Cadwell and Javonne Lowery) for the season to knee injuries.
• Louisiana's injury-riddled roster has used 11 different starting lineups in 24 games during the 2019-20 season.

Resilient Ragin' Cajuns Host Georgia Southern For Louisiana Salutes

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Players Mentioned

Durey Cadwell

P.J. Hardy

Jalen Johnson

Kobe Julien

Javonne Lowery

Cedric Russell

Mylik Wilson

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