University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Wednesday, February 5
Statesboro, GA
6 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
7-17,5-7Sun Belt
82
at
83
Georgia Southern
12-12,5-7Sun Belt
1
2
F
Louisiana
41
41
82
Ga. Southern
38
45
83
Big Nights From Garnett and El Moutaouakkil Not Enough as Cajuns Fall in Statesboro
2/5/2025 9:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Garnett became the 52nd player in program history with 1,000 career points
STATESBORO, Georgia - Kentrell Garnett scored 17 points and became the 52nd Cajun to score 1,000 career points at Louisiana on Wednesday at Georgia Southern. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil added a season-high 24 while Christian Wright and Kyran Ratliff finished in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Cajuns fell to the Eagles 83-82. Each of Georgia Southern's last three wins in the series have come by one.
Garnett reached the milestone on the team's first possession of the game with a three from the wing, becoming the third player in as many years to do so for Louisiana. He finished the night 5-of-7 from three.
El Moutaouakkil was 10-for-10 from the free throw line and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with his 24 points. Ratliff scored 11 points off the bench, going 6-for-6 from the free throw line, with four rebounds. Wright added 10 and five assists to the effort. Louisiana was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 24-for-25 on the night.
Garnett gave the Cajuns the early lead with his three to eclipse 1,000 points and Brandon Hardy followed with one of his own to make it 6-2. Moments later a layup by Hardy gave the Cajuns a 13-6 lead just five minutes into the game.
Back-to-back threes by the Eagles got them right back into the game before eventually taking a four-point lead. The sides traded baskets before a 7-0 run by the Cajuns gave them a 34-29 lead. A late three by Garnett gave them a six-point lead, but the Eagles converted on a three-point play before the half, sending the game into the locker rooms with Louisiana leading at 41-38.
Wright gave the Cajuns their largest lead of the night at 48-40 with a straightaway three a little over two minutes into the half. The home side scored the next five to make it a one-score game but another three by Garnett kept the Cajuns ahead.
Georgia Southern chipped away at the Cajun lead and retook the lead with 4:19 to play at 71-70. They stretched the lead to 79-74 with under two minutes to play, but Louisiana continued to fight. El Moutaouakkil scored the next four points and Wright sank a pair of free throws to take an 80-79 lead.
On the other end, the Eagles would make a quick layup before Louisiana missed on their end. A pair of Eagle free throws made it 83-80 with nine seconds remaining. London Fields would be fouled and make both free throws but the Eagles were able to run out the remainder of the clock on the inbounds pass.
Up next for the Cajuns is the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge. They'll face Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. in Dekalb in the first all-time meeting between the programs.
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).
Garnett reached the milestone on the team's first possession of the game with a three from the wing, becoming the third player in as many years to do so for Louisiana. He finished the night 5-of-7 from three.
El Moutaouakkil was 10-for-10 from the free throw line and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with his 24 points. Ratliff scored 11 points off the bench, going 6-for-6 from the free throw line, with four rebounds. Wright added 10 and five assists to the effort. Louisiana was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 24-for-25 on the night.
Garnett gave the Cajuns the early lead with his three to eclipse 1,000 points and Brandon Hardy followed with one of his own to make it 6-2. Moments later a layup by Hardy gave the Cajuns a 13-6 lead just five minutes into the game.
Back-to-back threes by the Eagles got them right back into the game before eventually taking a four-point lead. The sides traded baskets before a 7-0 run by the Cajuns gave them a 34-29 lead. A late three by Garnett gave them a six-point lead, but the Eagles converted on a three-point play before the half, sending the game into the locker rooms with Louisiana leading at 41-38.
Wright gave the Cajuns their largest lead of the night at 48-40 with a straightaway three a little over two minutes into the half. The home side scored the next five to make it a one-score game but another three by Garnett kept the Cajuns ahead.
Georgia Southern chipped away at the Cajun lead and retook the lead with 4:19 to play at 71-70. They stretched the lead to 79-74 with under two minutes to play, but Louisiana continued to fight. El Moutaouakkil scored the next four points and Wright sank a pair of free throws to take an 80-79 lead.
On the other end, the Eagles would make a quick layup before Louisiana missed on their end. A pair of Eagle free throws made it 83-80 with nine seconds remaining. London Fields would be fouled and make both free throws but the Eagles were able to run out the remainder of the clock on the inbounds pass.
Up next for the Cajuns is the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge. They'll face Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. in Dekalb in the first all-time meeting between the programs.
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
GS
FG%
.414
.526
3FG%
.455
.344
FT%
.960
.600
RB
35
32
TO
6
8
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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