Louisiana Heads To The Metroplex To Battle UTA

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball team hits the road for the first time in over six weeks when it travels to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to face UT Arlington beginning Friday in a two-game Sun Belt Conference series at College Park Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., on Friday with the series finale set for Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will be available on ESPN+ with Ron Thulin (pxp) and Mike Petersen (color) on the call.

Both games can also be heard in the Lafayette area on KPEL 96.5 FM with Jay Walker providing the commentary. Live stats will be available at CajunStats.com.

Playing on the road for the first time since a 66-63 win at New Orleans on Dec. 2, 2020 – a span of 44 days – Louisiana (8-3, 2-2 Sun Belt) begins a stretch of playing six of its next eight games away from the Cajundome. Louisiana earned a split last weekend with a pair of two-point decisions against defending SBC champion Little Rock.

Louisiana, which holds a 22-10 advantage in the all-time series and is 5-2 against UTA (6-6, 2-2 SBC) at College Park Center, claimed a 66-65 victory in the last meeting against the Mavs on a buzzer-beating, 3-pointer by Dou Gueye.

UTA opened SBC play dropping a pair of games at Little Rock before earning a sweep last weekend at ULM. In Saturday's win, the Mavs scored the game's final five points in the final 21 seconds for a 75-74 victory.

In an effort to limit exposure due to COVID concerns, Sun Belt Conference teams will host one opponent for two games on Friday and Saturday each week during the 2020-21 season. Additionally, Louisiana will only play its divisional opponents, playing four schools (Arkansas State, Little Rock, Texas State and UT Arlington) a total of four times, while playing its traditional travel partner (ULM) twice.

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 (8-3, 2-2 Sun Belt) at UT ARLINGTON (6-6, 2-2 Sun Belt)
FRIDAY – Game 1
Date / Time: January 15, 2021 / 6 p.m.
Site: Arlington, Texas
Arena: College Park Center (7,000)

SATURDAY – Game 2
Date / Time: January 16, 2021 / 4 p.m.
Site: Arlington, Texas

RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Ron Thulin (PxP), Mike Petersen (color)
Radio: KPEL 96.5
Talent: Jay Walker (PxP)

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

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 22-10
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 11-4
In Arlington: Louisiana leads, 10-5
Neutral: Series tied, 1-1
Streak: Louisiana +1
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 66-65 (1/30/20 at Arlington, Texas)

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 196-146 (11^th season), Career Record: 544-311 (28th season)

UT ARLINGTON
Head Coach: Chris Ogden (Texas, 2004)
Record at UTA: 37-40 (third season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana hits the road for the first time in 44 days when it opens a two-game Sun Belt Conference series at UT Arlington.
• The Ragin' Cajuns play their first game on the road since a 66-63 win at New Orleans on Dec. 2.
• With 112 career victories in Sun Belt Conference play, Louisiana head coach Bob Marlin is tied with UAB's Gene Bartow for third place in league history and one win shy of tying Ronnie Arrow (South Alabama) for second.
• The two games against UTA are the first of six games on the road for the Ragin' Cajuns in an eight-game span.
• Louisiana is 5-2 overall in games played at College Park Center and have won the last three meetings against the teams in the Metroplex.
• The Ragin' Cajuns earned a 66-65 victory in last year's contest at CPC on Dou Gueye's buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

QUICK HITS
• With 17 points against Little Rock on Saturday, Cedric Russell increased his career total to 1,150 points and passed Jay Wright (1,148 points, 2014-17) for 33rd place on the all-time scoring list.
• Louisiana is 4-1 this season in games decided by six points or less and is 61-55 overall under Bob Marlin.
• Louisiana is 6-1 this season when trailing at halftime.
• Theo Akwuba is second nationally in blocked shots per game (3.6) and fourth in total blocks (39).
• With a combined total of 11 double-doubles during the 2020-21 season, Louisiana is one of four teams nationally with a combined 10 or more double-doubles joining Illinois (14), Little Rock (12) and Wright State (11).
• Louisiana is converting on 80 percent (56-for-70) of its free throws during the first two weekends of Sun Belt Conference play.
• Louisiana's 17-for-17 performance from the free throw line against Texas State on Jan. 2 was the Ragin' Cajuns first perfect night with more than 15 attempts from the charity stripe since going 16-for-16 at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 12, 2011.
• Louisiana has made at least one 3-pointer in 501 consecutive games dating back to the 2005 season.

Louisiana Heads To The Metroplex To Battle UTA

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Players Mentioned

Theo Akwuba

Dou Gueye

Cedric Russell

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