University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, February 24
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
17-12,9-7Sun Belt
71
at
82
Southern Miss
16-13,9-7Sun Belt
1
2
F
Louisiana
29
42
71
Southern Miss.
31
51
82
Second Half Surge Leads USM by Louisiana
2/24/2024 9:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Joe Charles finished with 26 points, a career-high, and seven rebounds
HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – A career-high 26 points from Joe Charles wasn't enough as the Louisiana men's basketball team fell to Southern Miss, 82-71, at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Charles was 10-of-18 from the field, making three from deep, while grabbing seven rebounds in the effort. Themus Fulks added 10 points and six assists while Kobe Julien scored 10 with five rebounds.
Julien opened the scoring for the Cajuns (17-12, 9-7 SBC) but the Golden Eagles (16-13, 9-7 SBC) responded with an 11-2 run to take a seven-point lead. Louisiana's offense struggled to find a groove early as the home side pushed it to a 20-8 game.
The Cajun offense began to click, cutting the lead in half on a 6-0 run. Hosana Kitenge got things going with a layup before buckets by Julien and Charles made it 20-14. The sides traded baskets before neither scored a point for nearly three minutes. Kentrell Garnett hit from deep to start a 7-2 run before the half. Fulks beat the halftime buzzer, sending the Cajuns into the locker room down 31-29.
A 9-0 run to open the second half by the Golden Eagles saw them go ahead by 11. They'd push their lead to 17, 54-37, with 13:10 to go before Louisiana began to climb slowly back into the game.
Five points by Michael Thomas and baskets from Charles and Kitenge brought Louisiana back to within nine with over nine minutes to play. A three-ball by Charles made it a 64-59 game with 5:00 to play but a 10-2 run by Southern Miss put the game out of reach.
Louisiana returns home for the final week of the regular season. They'll open the week on Wednesday against Troy with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, or by purchasing by visiting Account Manager. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.
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).
Charles was 10-of-18 from the field, making three from deep, while grabbing seven rebounds in the effort. Themus Fulks added 10 points and six assists while Kobe Julien scored 10 with five rebounds.
Julien opened the scoring for the Cajuns (17-12, 9-7 SBC) but the Golden Eagles (16-13, 9-7 SBC) responded with an 11-2 run to take a seven-point lead. Louisiana's offense struggled to find a groove early as the home side pushed it to a 20-8 game.
The Cajun offense began to click, cutting the lead in half on a 6-0 run. Hosana Kitenge got things going with a layup before buckets by Julien and Charles made it 20-14. The sides traded baskets before neither scored a point for nearly three minutes. Kentrell Garnett hit from deep to start a 7-2 run before the half. Fulks beat the halftime buzzer, sending the Cajuns into the locker room down 31-29.
A 9-0 run to open the second half by the Golden Eagles saw them go ahead by 11. They'd push their lead to 17, 54-37, with 13:10 to go before Louisiana began to climb slowly back into the game.
Five points by Michael Thomas and baskets from Charles and Kitenge brought Louisiana back to within nine with over nine minutes to play. A three-ball by Charles made it a 64-59 game with 5:00 to play but a 10-2 run by Southern Miss put the game out of reach.
Louisiana returns home for the final week of the regular season. They'll open the week on Wednesday against Troy with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, or by purchasing by visiting Account Manager. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.
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
LA
USM
FG%
.394
.526
3FG%
.240
.467
FT%
.722
.625
RB
29
46
TO
9
16
STL
11
7
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
10
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballQuannas White Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Quannas White Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, March 16
Derrick Zimmerman Media Availability (Feb 24, 2025)
Monday, February 24
Derrick Zimmerman Media Availability (Feb 17, 2025)
Monday, February 17
