MBB: Cajuns Earn Fourth Straight Win in Victory Over Arkansas State
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Louisiana ran its winning streak to four with an 81-75 victory over Arkansas State on Friday in the Cajundome. The Cajuns led for 37:57 and have now won five of their last six games.
Kobe Julien continued his sensational season with 21 points and five rebounds, going 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Themus Fulks added 13 points, shooting 9-for-10 from the charity stripe, and five assists. Hosana Kitenge finished with 13 points and eight boards. Kentrell Garnett also finished in double figures with 12 points while Joe Charles scored nine points with 10 rebounds.
Louisiana (12-8, 5-3 SBC) shot and made a season-high in free throws, going 26-of-32 as a team from the line. They shot 41.7 percent from three (5-of-12) while holding Arkansas State (8-12, 4-4 SBC) to 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from beyond the arc.
Despite holding an early lead, the Cajuns were in foul trouble early after Kitenge and Charles both had two in the first five minutes. The Red Wolves took advantage and took the lead at 7-6 before the Cajuns caught fire.
Fulks hit a pair of free throws to give them the lead and Garnett followed with a pair of three-balls for a 14-7 lead. The sides traded points before the visitors got the score back within two. Leading 25-22, Michael Thomas had a putback layup that sparked a 6-0 run to go ahead by nine.
The lead hit double digits on a layup by Julien with 55 seconds to go in the half. After a pair of missed free throws by the Red Wolves, Fulks capped off the half with a jumper that had the Cajuns ahead 41-28 through 20 minutes.
Charles opened the second half with a putback dunk and Garnett followed with a three to take an 18-point lead. The visitors brought the game back to within 11 with a 5-0 run, but Kitenge ended the run with a layup to end it.
Neither side could get much room, but the Cajuns slowly pushed the lead to 65-45 with eight minutes to play. The Arkansas State offense came to life with five-and-a-half minutes to play, going on an 11-0 run to cut the Cajun lead to just eight. They'd make it a four-point game with less than a minute to go, but free throws by Louisiana down the stretch were enough to hold onto the win.
The Cajuns return to the court on Sunday at noon against Texas State in the second game of a six-game homestand.
