University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, February 3
Lafayette
7 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
15-8,8-3Sun Belt
80
vs
60
South Alabama
10-13,3-8Sun Belt
1
2
F
South Alabama
28
32
60
Louisiana
40
40
80
Ragin’ Cajuns Dominate the Glass, Roll to Seventh Straight Win
2/3/2024 11:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Three players recorded a double-double in the win
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – The train keeps rolling for the Louisiana men's basketball team as they earned their seventh consecutive win on Saturday, 80-60, over South Alabama in the Cajundome. The Ragin' Cajuns crushed the Jaguars on the glass, outrebounding them 49-30 on the night, leading to 18 second-chance points.
For the first time since March 6, 2021, also against South Alabama, three Cajuns recorded a double-double in the same game with Hosana Kitenge, Kobe Julien, and Joe Charles each reaching that milestone.
Kitenge led the Cajuns with 18 points to go along with 11 boards. The junior grabbed seven on the offensive end and also dished out three assists. Charles was all over the glass with a game-high 15 while pouring in 16 points. He scored 13 of his points in the second half and also recorded four steals.
"credit the guys for shooting the ball so much as it opens me up on the inside," said Kitenge. "Every time I just come out with the idea to play my best and give my all and when the ball is dropping, it's dropping."
Julien ended the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds as he closes in on 1,000 points for his career. The junior now stands just 20 points short of becoming the 51st player in program history to reach the milestone. It was the ninth double-double of the season for Charles and the second for both Julien and Kitenge.
"We did a lot of good things, tonight was a tough game," said head coach Bob Marlin. "They're like a wounded bear. We beat them over there. We were fortunate to beat them last year and played really good ball games. Coach (Richie Riley) is out and they're dangerous. I got a lot of respect for Turbo Jones and Thomas Howell and a couple of those guys. They can strike quickly, so we were fortunate to come out ahead."
The Jags (10-13, 3-8 SBC) opened the scoring on the game's first possession before Kitenge answered for the Cajuns (15-8, 8-3 SBC). The visitors retook the lead at 4-2 and Themus Fulks tied the game with a layup and from there, it was all Louisiana.
Julien gave them their first lead of the game with a three on the team's next possession. After trading buckets, the Cajuns went on a 6-0 run thanks to baskets by Kitenge, Julien, and Michael Thomas. Both offenses went cold for the next two-and-a-half minutes, failing to score a point before Thomas ended the drought with a layup.
Moments later Julien put the Cajuns up 11 at 28-17 with a three. The margin stayed around there before Kentrell Garnett extended it to 14 with a three with a little over a minute in the half. After a basket by the Jags to close the half the Cajuns went into the locker rooms up 40-28.
A 9-2 run capped by a three from Charles pushed the Cajuns ahead by 18 early in the second half. The sides traded baskets 10 times before the Jags finally started to cut into the Cajun lead. They brought the game back within 12 but a 7-1 run, highlighted by a Garnett three, ended any chance of a comeback by the road team.
Louisiana looks to extend their winning streak next Wednesday as they host Georgia State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Cajundome.
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).
For the first time since March 6, 2021, also against South Alabama, three Cajuns recorded a double-double in the same game with Hosana Kitenge, Kobe Julien, and Joe Charles each reaching that milestone.
Kitenge led the Cajuns with 18 points to go along with 11 boards. The junior grabbed seven on the offensive end and also dished out three assists. Charles was all over the glass with a game-high 15 while pouring in 16 points. He scored 13 of his points in the second half and also recorded four steals.
"credit the guys for shooting the ball so much as it opens me up on the inside," said Kitenge. "Every time I just come out with the idea to play my best and give my all and when the ball is dropping, it's dropping."
Julien ended the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds as he closes in on 1,000 points for his career. The junior now stands just 20 points short of becoming the 51st player in program history to reach the milestone. It was the ninth double-double of the season for Charles and the second for both Julien and Kitenge.
"We did a lot of good things, tonight was a tough game," said head coach Bob Marlin. "They're like a wounded bear. We beat them over there. We were fortunate to beat them last year and played really good ball games. Coach (Richie Riley) is out and they're dangerous. I got a lot of respect for Turbo Jones and Thomas Howell and a couple of those guys. They can strike quickly, so we were fortunate to come out ahead."
The Jags (10-13, 3-8 SBC) opened the scoring on the game's first possession before Kitenge answered for the Cajuns (15-8, 8-3 SBC). The visitors retook the lead at 4-2 and Themus Fulks tied the game with a layup and from there, it was all Louisiana.
Julien gave them their first lead of the game with a three on the team's next possession. After trading buckets, the Cajuns went on a 6-0 run thanks to baskets by Kitenge, Julien, and Michael Thomas. Both offenses went cold for the next two-and-a-half minutes, failing to score a point before Thomas ended the drought with a layup.
Moments later Julien put the Cajuns up 11 at 28-17 with a three. The margin stayed around there before Kentrell Garnett extended it to 14 with a three with a little over a minute in the half. After a basket by the Jags to close the half the Cajuns went into the locker rooms up 40-28.
A 9-2 run capped by a three from Charles pushed the Cajuns ahead by 18 early in the second half. The sides traded baskets 10 times before the Jags finally started to cut into the Cajun lead. They brought the game back within 12 but a 7-1 run, highlighted by a Garnett three, ended any chance of a comeback by the road team.
Louisiana looks to extend their winning streak next Wednesday as they host Georgia State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Cajundome.
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
USA
LA
FG%
.404
.444
3FG%
.211
.346
FT%
.769
.778
RB
30
49
TO
13
11
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
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