University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, February 22
Hattiesburg, MS
7 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
Southern Miss
Cajuns Look to Build Momentum Off Thursday’s Comeback Win
2/21/2025 4:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Louisiana looks for their third straight win
HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – Coming off a 17-point second half comeback win the Louisiana men's basketball team goes for their third straight win as they take on Southern Miss on Saturday in Hattiesburg.
Kentrell Garnett's three-pointer with 14 seconds to play sealed Louisiana's 72-69 win over Troy on Thursday. The Cajuns trailed by 17 in the second half before rallying back to win. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had a season-high 25 points with eight rebounds, carrying the offense. Zeke Cook had his best game in vermilion and white with season-highs in points with 15 and rebounds with 11. The senior was also a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line in the victory.
Southern Miss is struggling, losing their last five contests, and are just 2-7 since beating the Cajuns in January. The Golden Eagles have won both of the last two in Hattiesburg by identical 82-71 scores. They are led on both ends of the floor by Denijay Harris who is averaging 16.9 points and 10.8 rebounds on the year.
MEDIA CENTER
Story Lines
• Louisiana takes on Southern Miss for the second time this season. So far this year the Cajuns are 3-0 against opponents the second time around with wins over ULM, Texas State, and Troy, all on the road.
• The Cajuns staged an epic comeback in Thursday's 72-69 win at Troy. Louisiana trailed by 17 with 14:31 to play before storming back for the win. It was Louisiana's largest comeback victory since rallying from down 19 to beat Georgia Southern, 94-87, on January 23, 2023.
• Zeke Cook had his best game as a Cajun on Thursday. The senior recorded his first double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs. He went 7-for-7 from the free throw line, hitting six down the home stretch to seal the win.
• Mostapha El Moutaouakkil continues to produce in SBC play. The junior is scoring (17.3) and rebounding (6.8) in SBC games. He is 31st in the country in free throw makes (130) and 41st in attempts (167). He is tops in the SBC in free throw makes and second in attempts behind Denijay Harris of Southern Miss (174).
• Louisiana leads the SBC in free throw shooting in conference play at .793. The team is second in the league at .745 for the entire season.
GAME 29 PREVIEW – Louisiana (10-18, 7-8 SBC) vs. Southern Miss (10-18, 5-10 SBC)
Date/Time: February 22, 2025 / 7 p.m.
Site: Troy, Alabama
Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Lee Roberts (pxp), Larry Boyd (analyst)
Radio: 103.3 The Goat FM, 1420 AM / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Southern Miss leads, 30-20
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 15-10
In Hattiesburg: Southern Miss leads, 20-5
Streak: Southern Miss +1
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at (337) 482-4685.
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).
Kentrell Garnett's three-pointer with 14 seconds to play sealed Louisiana's 72-69 win over Troy on Thursday. The Cajuns trailed by 17 in the second half before rallying back to win. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had a season-high 25 points with eight rebounds, carrying the offense. Zeke Cook had his best game in vermilion and white with season-highs in points with 15 and rebounds with 11. The senior was also a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line in the victory.
Southern Miss is struggling, losing their last five contests, and are just 2-7 since beating the Cajuns in January. The Golden Eagles have won both of the last two in Hattiesburg by identical 82-71 scores. They are led on both ends of the floor by Denijay Harris who is averaging 16.9 points and 10.8 rebounds on the year.
MEDIA CENTER
Story Lines
• Louisiana takes on Southern Miss for the second time this season. So far this year the Cajuns are 3-0 against opponents the second time around with wins over ULM, Texas State, and Troy, all on the road.
• The Cajuns staged an epic comeback in Thursday's 72-69 win at Troy. Louisiana trailed by 17 with 14:31 to play before storming back for the win. It was Louisiana's largest comeback victory since rallying from down 19 to beat Georgia Southern, 94-87, on January 23, 2023.
• Zeke Cook had his best game as a Cajun on Thursday. The senior recorded his first double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs. He went 7-for-7 from the free throw line, hitting six down the home stretch to seal the win.
• Mostapha El Moutaouakkil continues to produce in SBC play. The junior is scoring (17.3) and rebounding (6.8) in SBC games. He is 31st in the country in free throw makes (130) and 41st in attempts (167). He is tops in the SBC in free throw makes and second in attempts behind Denijay Harris of Southern Miss (174).
• Louisiana leads the SBC in free throw shooting in conference play at .793. The team is second in the league at .745 for the entire season.
GAME 29 PREVIEW – Louisiana (10-18, 7-8 SBC) vs. Southern Miss (10-18, 5-10 SBC)
Date/Time: February 22, 2025 / 7 p.m.
Site: Troy, Alabama
Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Lee Roberts (pxp), Larry Boyd (analyst)
Radio: 103.3 The Goat FM, 1420 AM / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Southern Miss leads, 30-20
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 15-10
In Hattiesburg: Southern Miss leads, 20-5
Streak: Southern Miss +1
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at (337) 482-4685.
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
G
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