UL overcomes injuries to beat UNO, 78-71
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advocate-LES EAST
NEW ORLEANS -- The University of Louisiana overcame the loss of leading scorer Brad Boyd and won a war of attrition, 78-71, over the University of New Orleans on Saturday night in Lakefront Arena.
Boyd stayed home in Lafayette after being injured in a car accident between Lafayette and his home in Opelousas on Friday night.
Boyd's teammates learned the details of his accident when he phoned the locker room moments before tip-off to wish his teammates luck.
"The X-rays showed nothing internally, but Brad sounded like he was hurting," Ragin' Cajuns coach Jessie Evans said. "When he called it got very quiet in our locker room, which is unusual.
"Everyone wanted to listen to what Brad had to say. We won this game for Brad."
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/stories/011203/spo_ulluno001.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
Senior guard Anthony Johnson helped make up for the absence of Boyd's 17-point average by scoring a game-high 24 points, making 15-of-18 foul shots, including seven in the final 29 seconds.
"I'm a senior and I'm confident as a leader," Johnson said. "It was very important to get a win on the road."
UL (10-5 and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference) bounced back from a 93-89 loss at South Alabama on Thursday. The Cajuns play at Providence in a non-conference game Wednesday.
UNO, which had won 12 straight at home, is 9-5 and 2-1 going its Sun Belt game at Western Kentucky on Thursday.
Johnson left the game three times for injuries to his foot, knee and calf but finished.
Center Michael Southall, the Cajuns' third-leading scorer, missed several minutes in the first half after being hit in the head. He had nine points and six rebounds before fouling out.
Three Privateers fouled out in a game in which 52 fouls were called. UL-Lafayette made 30-of-41 foul shots, UNO 15-of-24.
"I've never heard of 52 fouls in a game," said forward Hector Romero, the Privateers' leading scorer who fouled out after scoring just 12 points, nine below his average, and taking just nine shots.
Victor Brown scored a season-high 15 points to match Johnell Smith as UNO's leading scorers. Billy McDade had 13, including four 3-pointers that fueled a second-half comeback.
"Defensively we did a fine job," Evans said. "We talked about not allowing their top guns beat us, making others beat us."
Cedric Williams had 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds for UL-Lafayette. Laurie Bridges scored 10.
"It was hard to play real hard defensively because they were calling everything," Williams said. "They told us before the game they were going to call it tight."
UL-Lafayette finished the first half with a 10-0 run and the first basket of the second was Bridges' 3-pointer that gave the Cajuns a 35-20 lead.
UNO coach Monte Towe left the arena without speaking to reporters.
"It was a war and that's the way it's going to be when we play New Orleans," Evans said.
"It's always been that way. I was pleased with the composure our guys showed."
-->
Johnson takes up slack for Cajun hoop squad in win over UNO
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Bruce Brown
LAFAYETTE - If there is someone Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns would rather see than Anthony Johnson with his hands on the ball when it counted most, the list would be a short one.
The senior forward had missed three games with an ankle sprain before returning to action for a pair of crucial Sun Belt Conference road games last week at South Alabama and New Orleans, and quickly showed fans what they had been missing.
In last Thursday's 93-89 loss at USA, Johnson pumped in 21 points in just 28 minutes off the bench. That enabled him to become the 34th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
Then, when the Cajuns met UNO on Saturday without injured leading scorer Brad Boyd, Johnson again showed why he is so valuable when he is on his game by scoring 24 points including 15-of-18 free throws.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/html/D1879E6C-54C0-487F-A9AF-116F6E692006.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
That was enough to hand the pesky Privateers their first loss at home, 78-71, and improve the Cajuns to 10-5 overal and 2-1 in the Sun Belt.
Johnson hit 8-of-11 from the floor at USA and 4-of-6 against UNO, as well as pulling down eight and seven rebounds in the two contests.
"We know he is capable of making the spectacular play," coach Jessie Evans said of Johnson. "What we've been working with Anthony on is making the fundamental play, the easy play. Then the spectacular plays will take care of themselves.
"We want him to be a sound basketball player. It was good to see him step up at the free throw line (11 of Johnson's 15 charity hits came after UNO closed to within 60-54 of the visitors).
"And, against their press, we usually like to send him long, out of the play. But he was the one who suggested that he fake long and come back to the ball. That's what you like to see in your seniors."
The New Orleans press helped get the Privateers back in the game (along with unexpected 3-point marksmanship from freshman Billy McDade), but the Cajuns held together for the key road victory.
"I was pleased with the composure the guys had," Evans said. "In a panic situation, they have the option of having a turnover or calling timeout. We allow them to grow up and get leadership on the floor."
It wasn't all perfect, of course. The Cajuns suffered 16 turnovers - some forced, others by mistakes - but the overall result was a delight to the numerous red-clad Cajun backers among the crowd of 3,283 at Lakefront Arena.
"Our fans have been so good to us," freshman Cedric Willliams said. "They helped us a lot."
"I felt good seeing all that red in the stands," said Evans, whose team travels to face Big East member Providence on Wednesday. "We always have a good crowd here."
In a rugged game like Saturday's, in which Cajun center Michael Southall fouled out with 4:46 to play and the Privateers lost three to disqualifications including 2002 SBC Player of the Year Hector Romero, any edge was appreciated.
"It's a war," Evans said. "It's always that way when we play UNO. We needed everybody, but we use them all the time in practice. We know they can play."
It was Johnson, who survived a couple of hard fouls to keep playing, who lifted the Cajuns over the top.
-->
Boyd may not suit up until Saturday
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Dan McDonald
<b>Accident slows down Cajuns'' point man.</b>
LAFAYETTE - Louisiana head basket- ball coach Jessie Evans isn't sure he wants Brad Boyd to make today's trip with his Ragin' Cajun teammates.
It's not that he doesn't want the junior's 17.3 points per game or his 60 three-pointers this season on the court Wednesday night when the Cajuns take on Big East Conference member Providence in an intersectional game. But he wants to make sure that Boyd's healthy for the Sun Belt Conference battles to follow.
Boyd was injured in an automobile accident late Friday night and did not make the trip to New Orleans Saturday, when the Cajuns took a 78-71 league win. In fact, he hasn't made many trips out of his dormitory bed since early Saturday when he returned there after a stop by the emergency room following his accident.
"He still hasn't moved very much," said roommate Laurie Bridges on Monday. "When the alarm went off today, he asked me to turn it off for him."
Boyd did make it to the Cajuns' practice session Monday afternoon, but was limited and Evans was looking more at a return for Saturday's home conference battle with Florida International.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/html/14F871C6-EA6B-4569-8ADF-E99A9C6A1E4D.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
"My suggestion would be for him to stay here and not travel," he said, "and work on being ready for Saturday. He was so sore he couldn't raise his arms over his head Sunday morning. He's getting better and sounded a lot better today."
Boyd and a companion flipped over Friday evening on Interstate 49, avoiding another automobile driving down the wrong way on the divided highway.
X-rays and other examinations showed no major or internal injuries, but the bruising and soreness were still present Monday. And, the physical brand of basketball prevalent among Big East teams may provide more of a deterrent to his participation Wednesday.
But Evans said he'll leave the final decision up to the medical staff, and to Boyd.
"If they (doctors and trainers) release him and he feels like he's ready to go, then there's a chance," Evans said. "But he'll be the one to make that decision."
The Cajuns are making a habit of overcoming absences by some of their key players this year. UL Lafayette beat nationally-ranked Mississippi State in the season opener without Bridges, Michael Southall and Cedric Williams available due to academic problems.
Senior swingman Anthony Johnson missed three straight games with an ankle injury suffered in the Pepsi Classic in Charlotte, and the Cajuns won all three.
Johnson helped make up for Boyd's absence on Saturday, coming off the bench to score 24 points in 23 minutes.
"As long as we have six or seven guys available," Evans said, "I'm fine with that. We'd like to be at full strength every time, but there's no one guy on our team that we can't play without.The Cajuns are making a habit of overcoming absences by some of their key players this year. UL Lafayette beat nationally-ranked Mississippi State in the season opener without Bridges, Michael Southall and Cedric Williams unavailable due to academic problems.
Senior swingman Anthony Johnson missed three straight games with an ankle injury suffered in the Pepsi Classic in Charlotte, and the Cajuns won all three.
Johnson helped make up for Boyd´s absence on Saturday, coming off the bench to score 24 points in 23 minutes.
As long as we have six or seven guys available, Evans said, I´m fine with that. We´d like to be at full strength every time, but there´s no one guy on our team that we can´t play without.""
-->
Providence Friars hold off Cajuns
<blockquote><p align=justify>
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Louisiana's basketball squad shot better and rebounded better than Providence's Friars here Wednesday night, but didn't do either one well enough to overcome an error-prone performance.
The Ragin' Cajuns committed 18 turnovers - 10 more than the Big East Conference Friars - and Providence made that possession difference count in taking a 67-58 victory at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
The Friars (9-5) trailed the Cajuns 34-33 at halftime, but outscored the visitors 13-2 in the first four and one-half minutes of the second half to take the lead for good in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
Louisiana (10-6) shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the field compared to the Friars' 41.0 mark (25-61) and held a 35-32 rebound advantage, but ball possession became the telling factor as the Cajuns wrapped up a four-game road swing by losing for only the second time this season after leading at halftime.
"We just can't turn the ball over like that," coach Jessie Evans said. "We're turning it over for no apparent reason.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/html/681C3290-4C51-4DBC-89DB-D9DFD77D833D.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
"We had clawed our way back into the game in the last few minutes and had it at a two-possession game, but turnovers just killed us."
The Cajuns trailed by as many as 10 points early in the second half when Sheiku Kabba's three-pointer gave the Friars a 46-36 lead, but responded with seven straight points to cut the margin to 46-43 on Anthony Johnson's steal and layup.
It was still a three-point game at 56-54 with just over six minutes left after a Johnson tipin, but the Cajuns went scoreless for the next five minutes and suffered four turnovers in the final 7:15.
Donnie McGrath's three-pointer at the 5:50 mark started a 7-0 Providence run and locked up the Friars' fifth straight home win.
"We didn't make big plays when we had to make them," said Evans, whose squad was playing without the services of injured leading scorer Brad Boyd. "We missed having Brad's leadership and his getting us into the offense, and also knocking down shots."
The Cajuns only hit 33 percent from the floor in the second half after a red-hot first 20 minutes in which the visitors led by as many as seven points.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Laurie Bridges and Kenneth Lawrence gave UL Lafayette a 12-6 lead with 13:37 left in the half, and baskets by Antoine Landry and Robert Jupiter overcame a four-point Friar lead and gave the Cajuns the one-point halftime lead.
Ryan Gomes, the game's leading scorer with 21 points, and Tuukka Kotti each had two baskets in the 13-2 Friar run early in the second half. Finland native Kotti had 13 points and Latvia product Maris Laksa had 12 as the other Providence twin-digit scorers.
Anthony Johnson had 11 of his 14 points in the second half to lead the Cajuns, coming off the bench after being a question mark to play due to a hyperextended knee. Bridges and Michael Southall each had 12 points and Lawrence had 10.
Southall also had nine rebounds, six in the first half when the Cajuns held a 17-10 advantage, but Providence was more than even on the boards in the second half and had 11 offensive rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
"We thought we'd have an inside advantage," Evans said. "They were dropping two or three guys down on Mike, and that's when we have to reverse it and knock down shots."
-->
UL vs FIU Cajun home cooking
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Dan McDonald
LAFAYETTE - It's the big round building off Congress Street with the white roof.
Members of the UL basketball team may need even more detailed directions to find the Cajundome Saturday night.
The Ragin' Cajuns, fresh off a 67-58 loss at budding Big East Conference power Providence on Wednesday, return to Sun Belt Conference play at 7:05 p.m. Saturday against a depleted Florida International team.
When they do, it'll be the first home appearance since Jan. 2, and the second in a full 31 days.
"It'll be good to get home," said Cajun head coach Jessie Evans after Wednesday's game. "It seems like we've been on the road the whole season."
Actually, UL (10-6, 2-1 Sun Belt) has been on the road in all but one game since a Dec. 18 win over Bethune-Cookman. The only Cajundome appearance since then was the Jan. 2 81-74 win over New Mexico State in the conference opener.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/html/7E35280F-45E2-41B5-B0D5-99937185FFA7.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
For those counting, it's nine out of 10 games on the road over the last month, with a 6-4 record to show for that streak. Now, the Cajuns have seven home games and only five road games the rest of the way, all of them league games.
Louisiana also plays its next two at home, beginning with Saturday's contest against FIU (6-10, 0-3) in which the Cajuns will face a team in turmoil.
The Golden Panthers opened their season with four straight wins including a road win at Princeton, but since then have lost nine out of 11 including three straight conference home games.
FIU also underwent its second player purge of the season, with regulars Taurance Johnson - a preseason second-team all-league pick - and Al Harris being dismissed from the squad by head coach Donnie Marsh. Harris was averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 boards per contest.
Evans, though, is more concerned about his own team, one that has committed 55 turnovers in its last three games and one that could easily have gone 3-0 in that streak instead of 1-2 had that number been smaller.
-->
