University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesday, November 19
Lafayette
7:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
1-3,0-0Sun Belt
61
vs
83
Rice
4-1,0-0AAC
1
2
F
Rice
41
42
83
Louisiana
40
21
61
Cajun Offense Goes Cold in the Second Half Against Rice
11/19/2024 11:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Michael Thomas and Kyran Ratliff set career highs for scoring on the night
LAFAYETTE — Despite a spirited comeback late in the first half, the Louisiana men's basketball team's offense went cold in the second half of an 83-61 defeat against Rice on Tuesday in the Cajundome.
Michael Thomas had a career-high 17 points to lead the team. The senior was 7-for-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Christian Wright added 13 points with five rebounds. Kyran Ratliff added a career-high nine points along with five boards.
The Cajun offense started slowly as the Owls, playing in the Cajundome for the first time since 2012, built a 17-6 lead just five-and-a-half minutes into the game. Louisiana got some momentum after a three by Thomas and a bucket by Koron Davis to make it a six-point ball game.
The Owls kept their lead at 11 when Thomas made a layup, had a steal on defense, and then hit a layup in transition to get the Cajuns back within seven. With five to play in the half, the Cajuns caught fire trailing again by 11. Thomas hit a three and after the sides traded baskets, Wright hit one from deep to keep the Cajuns within single digits.
Ratliff then had a steal and score before Chancellor White hit a three to make it 41-36. Ratliff would make the putback on a miss and Wright hit a layup on the team's final possession of the half to send the game into the locker room with the Cajuns trailing 41-40.
After the Owls opened the half with a basket, Kyndall Davis hit from deep to tie the score at 43. Rice answered with five straight before Wright hit a layup and a Ratliff three tied the game again. The teams traded buckets and were tied at 50 but Louisiana went cold from the field, not hitting a field goal for just over the next seven minutes of action.
Thomas ended a 15-1 Rice run with a jumper but the Cajuns would go another four minutes without another field goal and by then the Owls had pulled away.
Next for the Cajuns is three games in four days as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. Louisiana opens the event on Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Liberty.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest on Louisiana Men's Basketball, stay tuned to RaginCajuns.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB).
Michael Thomas had a career-high 17 points to lead the team. The senior was 7-for-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Christian Wright added 13 points with five rebounds. Kyran Ratliff added a career-high nine points along with five boards.
The Cajun offense started slowly as the Owls, playing in the Cajundome for the first time since 2012, built a 17-6 lead just five-and-a-half minutes into the game. Louisiana got some momentum after a three by Thomas and a bucket by Koron Davis to make it a six-point ball game.
The Owls kept their lead at 11 when Thomas made a layup, had a steal on defense, and then hit a layup in transition to get the Cajuns back within seven. With five to play in the half, the Cajuns caught fire trailing again by 11. Thomas hit a three and after the sides traded baskets, Wright hit one from deep to keep the Cajuns within single digits.
Ratliff then had a steal and score before Chancellor White hit a three to make it 41-36. Ratliff would make the putback on a miss and Wright hit a layup on the team's final possession of the half to send the game into the locker room with the Cajuns trailing 41-40.
After the Owls opened the half with a basket, Kyndall Davis hit from deep to tie the score at 43. Rice answered with five straight before Wright hit a layup and a Ratliff three tied the game again. The teams traded buckets and were tied at 50 but Louisiana went cold from the field, not hitting a field goal for just over the next seven minutes of action.
Thomas ended a 15-1 Rice run with a jumper but the Cajuns would go another four minutes without another field goal and by then the Owls had pulled away.
Next for the Cajuns is three games in four days as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. Louisiana opens the event on Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Liberty.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest on Louisiana Men's Basketball, stay tuned to RaginCajuns.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB).
Team Stats
Rice
LA
FG%
.551
.357
3FG%
.389
.320
FT%
.647
.375
RB
45
29
TO
11
5
STL
3
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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