Louisiana Hosts A-State in Sun Belt Men's Basketball Series

LAFAYETTE – After earning a split in its initial Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball series last weekend on the road, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball team returns home to the Cajundome to host league rival Arkansas State in a two-game series beginning on Friday.

Tipoff for Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the series finale set for Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will be available on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and former Ragin' Cajuns point guard Eric Mouton (color) on the call.

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

Louisiana (9-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) opened its Sun Belt Conference road schedule dropping a 91-86 decision at UT Arlington last Friday before a dominating 68-51 victory in the finale on Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns held a potent UTA offense to 30 points below its scoring average while limited the Mavs to 26.5 percent from the floor – the third-lowest shooting performance against Louisiana in the Bob Marlin era.

The meeting against Arkansas State (5-6, 2-2 Sun Belt) is the first of two this season with the teams scheduled to meet in a two-game series next month (Feb. 5-6) in Jonesboro, Ark.

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 (9-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) vs. ARKANSAS STATE (5-6, 2-2 Sun Belt)
FRIDAY – Game 1
Date / Time: January 22, 2021 / 6 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: College Park Center (12,362)

SATURDAY – Game 2
Date / Time: January 23, 2021 / 4 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.

RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP), Eric Mouton (color)
Radio: KPEL 96.5
Talent: Ian Auzenne (PxP)

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

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 55-27
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 33-9
In Jonesboro: Louisiana leads, 21-18
Neutral: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Streak: Louisiana +2
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 73-66 (March 7, 2020)

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Record at Louisiana: 197-147 (11^th season), Career Record: 545-312 (28th season)

ARKANSAS STATE
Head Coach: Mike Balado (St. Thomas [Fla.], 1998)
Record at A-State: 45-62 (fourth season), Career Record: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana returns to the Cajundome beginning Friday to host Arkansas State in a two-game Sun Belt Conference series.
• The schools are scheduled to meet again in two weeks (Feb. 5-6) at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro.
• Louisiana has won eight of the last 10 meetings against the Red Wolves at the Cajundome.
• Louisiana is 49-25 all-time against A-State in conference games dating back to 1972 (Southland Conference, American South, Sun Belt).
• Theo Akwuba is ranked nationally in the top 15 in the following categories - Total Blocks (2nd, 45), Blocks per Game (3rd, 3.46), Offensive Rebounds per Game (7th, 4.08), Total Rebounds (10th, 136), Double-Doubles (11th, 6) and Rebounds per Game (14th, 10.5).
• Louisiana is ranked sixth nationally in total blocks (75), 10th among Division I schools in blocks per game (5.8) and 13th in total rebounds per game (41.69).
• With 112 career victories in Sun Belt Conference play, Louisiana head coach Bob Marlin can move into sole possession of second place in league history with his next win.
• Marlin is currently tied with former South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow for second place in league history and is five wins shy of tying Kermit Davis (Middle Tennessee) for the all-time SBC lead.

QUICK HITS
• In last Saturday's 68-51 win at UT Arlington, the Ragin' Cajuns held the Mavs to 26.5 percent (18-for-68) from the floor - the third-lowest in the Bob Marlin era and ninth time holding an opponent to 30 percent or less in a game.
• Louisiana is 4-2 this season in games decided by six points or less and is 61-56 overall under Bob Marlin.
• Louisiana is 6-2 this season when trailing at halftime.
• 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 503 consecutive games dating back to the 2005 season.
• Redshirt freshman Devin Butts earned his first career start in Friday's opening game against UTA; after going 6-for-12 from behind the 3-point line against Texas State on Jan. 1, Butts is a combined 1-for-16 from behind the arc in his last five games.
• Louisiana's 86 points in a loss were the most scored since a 103-86 decision to Georgia Southern on Feb. 6, 2019
• Jacobi Gordon's 10 points last Friday was his most in a Louisiana uniform and tied his career high that was previously set on Dec. 5, 2018 against San Francisco during his freshman season at PAC-12 member Cal.
• Gordon's five rebounds set a season-high and were one off his career-best (6) set at UCLA on Jan. 5, 2019.
• Louisiana's 39 points from the bench tied a season-high (vs. LSU Alexandria on 12/8/20).
• In last Friday's opener at UTA, Cedric Russell came off the bench for the first time since Jan. 5, 2019 vs. Little Rock, snapping a streak of 60 consecutive starts.

Louisiana Hosts A-State in Sun Belt Men's Basketball Series

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Players Mentioned

Theo Akwuba

Devin Butts

Jacobi Gordon

Cedric Russell

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