University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesday, March 3
Pensacola, Fla.
5 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Georgia State
Louisiana Basketball Preview: vs. Georgia State (SBC Championships)
3/2/2026 10:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Winner between UL, Georgia State to face James Madison on Wednesday
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Familiar foes meet once again when No. 12-seeded Louisiana opens play in the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Championship Presented by Air Force Reserve against No. 13-seeded Georgia State on Tuesday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with fans in the Lafayette area able to listen to the game on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
The winner advances to face No. 9 seed James Madison in Wednesday's second round at 5 p.m.
Louisiana (10-21) and Georgia State (10-21) will meet for the sixth time in Sun Belt postseason history, a series that has produced its share of tight finishes and memorable moments. The Panthers hold a 4-1 edge in those tournament matchups, including a pair of victories in Pensacola in 2021 and 2022.
One of the most memorable meetings between the programs came in the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game at Lakefront Arena, when the third-seeded Ragin' Cajuns stunned the top-seeded Panthers, 82-81, in overtime to claim the title. That victory remains a benchmark moment in Louisiana's conference tournament history and a reminder of what can happen when March arrives.
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).
GAME 32 PREVIEW – #12 seed Louisiana (10-21) vs. #13 Georgia State (10-21)
Date/Time: March 3, 2026 / 5 p.m.
Site: Pensacola, Fla.
Arena: Pensacola Bay Center (10,000)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Stewart (pxp), Victor Howell (color)
Radio: KPEL-FM (96.5)/ The Varsity Network
Talent: Dawson Eiserloh (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall – Georgia State leads, 18-9
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 7-5
In Atlanta – Georgia State leads, 9-1
Neutral Site – Georgia State leads, 4-1
Last 10 Games – Georgia State, 7-3
Streak – Louisiana +1
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
• The winner of Tuesday's first round game will advance to face No. 9-seeded James Madison in a second-round game on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
LAST MEETING - UL 82, GSU 72
• Redshirt sophomore De'Vion Lavergne scored a career-high 23 points, and Louisiana withstood Georgia State's second-half parade to the free throw line as the Ragin' Cajuns built a big lead and held on to defeat the Panthers, 82-72, in a Sun Belt Conference game on Jan. 29 at the Cajundome.
• Lavergne scored on eight of his 13 field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers and dished out seven assists as Louisiana (6-16, 4-6 SBC) beat the Panthers for only the ninth time in 27 all-time meetings.
• Dorian Finister added 18 points and six rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns, while redshirt freshman Karris Bilal added a career-high 13 points. Jaxon Olvera rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.
• Georgia State (9-12, 6-4 SBC), which had won its last four games and seven of its last nine, was led by a career-high 25 points from junior Malachi Brown.
• Jelani Hamilton, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week, was held to 2-for-15 from the field and came up empty on all six of his 3-point attempts, scoring 14 points, thanks to a stellar 10-for-10 performance from the free throw line.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with fans in the Lafayette area able to listen to the game on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
The winner advances to face No. 9 seed James Madison in Wednesday's second round at 5 p.m.
Louisiana (10-21) and Georgia State (10-21) will meet for the sixth time in Sun Belt postseason history, a series that has produced its share of tight finishes and memorable moments. The Panthers hold a 4-1 edge in those tournament matchups, including a pair of victories in Pensacola in 2021 and 2022.
One of the most memorable meetings between the programs came in the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game at Lakefront Arena, when the third-seeded Ragin' Cajuns stunned the top-seeded Panthers, 82-81, in overtime to claim the title. That victory remains a benchmark moment in Louisiana's conference tournament history and a reminder of what can happen when March arrives.
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).
GAME 32 PREVIEW – #12 seed Louisiana (10-21) vs. #13 Georgia State (10-21)
Date/Time: March 3, 2026 / 5 p.m.
Site: Pensacola, Fla.
Arena: Pensacola Bay Center (10,000)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Stewart (pxp), Victor Howell (color)
Radio: KPEL-FM (96.5)/ The Varsity Network
Talent: Dawson Eiserloh (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall – Georgia State leads, 18-9
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 7-5
In Atlanta – Georgia State leads, 9-1
Neutral Site – Georgia State leads, 4-1
Last 10 Games – Georgia State, 7-3
Streak – Louisiana +1
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
• The winner of Tuesday's first round game will advance to face No. 9-seeded James Madison in a second-round game on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
LAST MEETING - UL 82, GSU 72
• Redshirt sophomore De'Vion Lavergne scored a career-high 23 points, and Louisiana withstood Georgia State's second-half parade to the free throw line as the Ragin' Cajuns built a big lead and held on to defeat the Panthers, 82-72, in a Sun Belt Conference game on Jan. 29 at the Cajundome.
• Lavergne scored on eight of his 13 field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers and dished out seven assists as Louisiana (6-16, 4-6 SBC) beat the Panthers for only the ninth time in 27 all-time meetings.
• Dorian Finister added 18 points and six rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns, while redshirt freshman Karris Bilal added a career-high 13 points. Jaxon Olvera rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.
• Georgia State (9-12, 6-4 SBC), which had won its last four games and seven of its last nine, was led by a career-high 25 points from junior Malachi Brown.
• Jelani Hamilton, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week, was held to 2-for-15 from the field and came up empty on all six of his 3-point attempts, scoring 14 points, thanks to a stellar 10-for-10 performance from the free throw line.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballQuannas White Media Availability (Feb 21, 2026)
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