University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, March 1
Lafayette
7:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Southern Miss
Louisiana Hosts Southern Miss in Regular Season Finale
2/29/2024 4:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Ragin’ Cajuns look to secure the No. 5 seed in the SBC Tournament
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – For the final time in the 2023-24 season the Louisiana men's basketball team takes to the Cajundome floor as they host Southern Miss in the last game of the regular season. Seeding for next week's Sun Belt Conference Championships is on the line as the winner takes the No. 5 seed with the loser heading into the tournament as the No. 6 seed.
The Cajuns have dropped their last four contests including Wednesday night to Troy, 87-73. Kobe Julien led the offense with 21 points while freshman Brandon Hardy scored a career-high 15 on 7-of-9 shooting. The game saw a combined 77 free throws, just the fifth time in the Marlin era that both schools attempted 35 free throws or more. It was the 23rd such game this season and the 15th that ended in regulation.
Southern Miss has alternated wins and losses over their last six games, including a win last Saturday over Louisiana. Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Austin Crowley leads the way for the Golden Eagles, averaging 16.0 points per game and dishing out 100 assists.
Story Lines
• Head coach Bob Marlin looks to become the first coach in Sun Belt Conference history with 150 wins in Sun Belt action.
• The winner of this contest will clinch the No. 5 seed in next week's SBC Championships in Pensacola. The loser will enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed.
• For the 13th time in 14 seasons the Cajuns have won 10 or more games at home. They are one of six SBC teams to reach that mark this season joining Troy (15), James Madison (14), App State (14), Southern Miss (11), and Arkansas State (10).
• Louisiana is third in the country in three-point percentage defense at .277. The Cajuns are one of three SBC teams in the top 10 along with James Madison (7th, .286) and Georgia State (9th, .289).
• Louisiana has dropped four in a row for the first time since the 2019-20 season. They look to avoid losing five straight SBC games in the same season for the first time since 2005-06.
• These teams have split the last six meetings in Lafayette dating back to 1995. Four of the last five meetings have taken place in Hattiesburg, including the last two won by the Golden Eagles by identical 82-71 scores.
GAME 31 PREVIEW – Louisiana (17-13, 9-8 SBC) vs. Southern Miss (16-14, 9-8 SBC)
Date/Time: March 1, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, Louisiana
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
??Talent: Dan McDonald (pxp), Scott Brazda (analyst)
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Dawson Eiserloh (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Southern Miss leads, 33-27
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 18-11
In Hattiesburg: Southern Miss leads, 22-8
At Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Streak: Southern Miss +2
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).
The Cajuns have dropped their last four contests including Wednesday night to Troy, 87-73. Kobe Julien led the offense with 21 points while freshman Brandon Hardy scored a career-high 15 on 7-of-9 shooting. The game saw a combined 77 free throws, just the fifth time in the Marlin era that both schools attempted 35 free throws or more. It was the 23rd such game this season and the 15th that ended in regulation.
Southern Miss has alternated wins and losses over their last six games, including a win last Saturday over Louisiana. Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Austin Crowley leads the way for the Golden Eagles, averaging 16.0 points per game and dishing out 100 assists.
Story Lines
• Head coach Bob Marlin looks to become the first coach in Sun Belt Conference history with 150 wins in Sun Belt action.
• The winner of this contest will clinch the No. 5 seed in next week's SBC Championships in Pensacola. The loser will enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed.
• For the 13th time in 14 seasons the Cajuns have won 10 or more games at home. They are one of six SBC teams to reach that mark this season joining Troy (15), James Madison (14), App State (14), Southern Miss (11), and Arkansas State (10).
• Louisiana is third in the country in three-point percentage defense at .277. The Cajuns are one of three SBC teams in the top 10 along with James Madison (7th, .286) and Georgia State (9th, .289).
• Louisiana has dropped four in a row for the first time since the 2019-20 season. They look to avoid losing five straight SBC games in the same season for the first time since 2005-06.
• These teams have split the last six meetings in Lafayette dating back to 1995. Four of the last five meetings have taken place in Hattiesburg, including the last two won by the Golden Eagles by identical 82-71 scores.
GAME 31 PREVIEW – Louisiana (17-13, 9-8 SBC) vs. Southern Miss (16-14, 9-8 SBC)
Date/Time: March 1, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, Louisiana
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
??Talent: Dan McDonald (pxp), Scott Brazda (analyst)
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Dawson Eiserloh (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Southern Miss leads, 33-27
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 18-11
In Hattiesburg: Southern Miss leads, 22-8
At Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 1-0
Streak: Southern Miss +2
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).
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
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