University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, February 20
Troy, AL
6 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
10-18,7-8Sun Belt
72
at
69
Troy
17-10,10-5Sun Belt
1
2
F
Louisiana
29
43
72
Troy
38
31
69
Garnett’s Late Three Caps 17-Point Road Comeback Victory Over Troy
2/20/2025 9:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
It was Louisiana’s largest comeback win since 2023
TROY, Alabama - Trailing by as many as 17 in the second half at Troy, the Louisiana men's basketball team staged a dramatic, 72-69, comeback win thanks to Kentrell Garnett's fadeaway three with 20 seconds left. It is the team's largest comeback win since rallying from down 19 to beat Georgia Southern, 94-87, on January 28, 2023.
Four Cajuns finished in double figures led by 25 points from Mostapha El Moutaouakkil. The junior was an extremely efficient 8-for-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line while also grabbing seven boards and three steals. Zeke Cook had a monster night, posting his first double-double as a Cajun. The senior finished the night with 15 points and 11 rebounds, going 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
Garnett's go-ahead shot stole the show and gave him 14 points on the night. He also added three assists and three steals. London Fields came up huge off the bench with 12 points.
Through the opening 25 and a half minutes, this game looked like it was going to be a repeat of Troy's 18-point win over the Cajuns last week in the Cajundome. Louisiana had other ideas.
A free throw by the Trojans made it a 53-36 game with 14:41 to play. Fields answered with a three to get the offense going. After a pair of free throws by El Moutaouakkil, Fields got Louisiana back within single digits with another three at 53-44. El Moutaouakkil got them closer with a layup before a pair of Trojan free throws interrupted Louisiana's 10-0 run.
Louisiana once again answered the call on offense and defense, scoring the next six points to make it 55-52 with 8:35 to play. Troy went back up by five at 62-57 but El Moutaouakkil responded with a layup to keep Louisiana within a possession. Garnett connected on a jumper to make it a one-point game and on the following possession got a steal and layup to put Louisiana ahead, 63-62.
Four straight free throws by Cook ballooned Louisiana's lead to five before Troy's offense scored the next seven points to retake a 69-67 lead. With 21 seconds left in regulation and four seconds on the shot clock, after the ball was deflected out of bounds, Garnett caught the inbounds pass, took two dribbles to his right, and fired off a shot well beyond the three-point line that went in. That shot put Louisiana ahead 70-69.
On the other end, Louisiana came up once again with a defensive stand and Cook pulled down the rebound. He added a pair of free throws to ice the game and complete the wild comeback.
Louisiana outscored Troy 43-31 in the second half, and 36-16 in the final 14 minutes of action. The Ragin' Cajuns were once again nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 21-for-23 on free throw attempts.
The Cajuns remain on the road to face Southern Miss on Saturday at 7 PM in Hattiesburg.
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).
Four Cajuns finished in double figures led by 25 points from Mostapha El Moutaouakkil. The junior was an extremely efficient 8-for-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line while also grabbing seven boards and three steals. Zeke Cook had a monster night, posting his first double-double as a Cajun. The senior finished the night with 15 points and 11 rebounds, going 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
Garnett's go-ahead shot stole the show and gave him 14 points on the night. He also added three assists and three steals. London Fields came up huge off the bench with 12 points.
Through the opening 25 and a half minutes, this game looked like it was going to be a repeat of Troy's 18-point win over the Cajuns last week in the Cajundome. Louisiana had other ideas.
A free throw by the Trojans made it a 53-36 game with 14:41 to play. Fields answered with a three to get the offense going. After a pair of free throws by El Moutaouakkil, Fields got Louisiana back within single digits with another three at 53-44. El Moutaouakkil got them closer with a layup before a pair of Trojan free throws interrupted Louisiana's 10-0 run.
Louisiana once again answered the call on offense and defense, scoring the next six points to make it 55-52 with 8:35 to play. Troy went back up by five at 62-57 but El Moutaouakkil responded with a layup to keep Louisiana within a possession. Garnett connected on a jumper to make it a one-point game and on the following possession got a steal and layup to put Louisiana ahead, 63-62.
Four straight free throws by Cook ballooned Louisiana's lead to five before Troy's offense scored the next seven points to retake a 69-67 lead. With 21 seconds left in regulation and four seconds on the shot clock, after the ball was deflected out of bounds, Garnett caught the inbounds pass, took two dribbles to his right, and fired off a shot well beyond the three-point line that went in. That shot put Louisiana ahead 70-69.
?? KG MY GOODNESS#GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/zOXoW9rF71
— Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns® Men's Basketball (@RaginCajunsMBB) February 21, 2025
On the other end, Louisiana came up once again with a defensive stand and Cook pulled down the rebound. He added a pair of free throws to ice the game and complete the wild comeback.
Louisiana outscored Troy 43-31 in the second half, and 36-16 in the final 14 minutes of action. The Ragin' Cajuns were once again nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 21-for-23 on free throw attempts.
The Cajuns remain on the road to face Southern Miss on Saturday at 7 PM in Hattiesburg.
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
LA
TROY
FG%
.434
.385
3FG%
.385
.321
FT%
.913
.625
RB
31
43
TO
13
16
STL
11
11
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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