Louisiana and Lamar Face Off Tuesday Night

• For the first time in 10 seasons Louisiana will meet Lamar. The three-time conference rivals haven’t met since a Dec. 14, 1999 meeting in the CAJUNDOME.
• The Cajuns are coming off of a 61-59 loss to in-state rival Louisiana Tech in the season opener. Louisiana seeks to avoid its first 0-2 start since the 2005-06 season.
• Something about Tuesday? Tonight’s game is the third this month for UL on a Tuesday night (both exhibitions were held on Tuesdays). In fact, following tonight’s game with Lamar the Cajuns’ next two home games are on Tuesday.
• With Randell Daigle (hand) and Chris Gradnigo (elbow) out vs. Louisiana Tech as well as Emmanuel Adeife and Lamar Roberson (transfers not eligible until end of Fall 2008 semester), Louisiana took the floor with only nine scholarship players.
• Tonight’s game is the second of eight regular season home games before Christmas.
• Defense appears to be a strong point for Louisiana again this season. The Cajuns forced 22 Louisiana Tech turnovers and limited the Bulldogs to 16 field goal attempts in the first half.
• Robert Lee meets Lamar for the first time as UL’s head coach. While an assistant coach, the Cajuns and Cardinals met seven times (UL was 4-3 vs. LU).
• Tic Price (former head coach at UNO and McNeese State) returns to the CAJUNDOME. He is currently serving as an assistant coach at Lamar.

LA. TECH LEFTOVERS
• The loss dropped UL to 19-17 in season openers since moving to Division I in 1971-72.
• Louisiana lost a season opener for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Louisiana is now 3-2 in season openers under Robert Lee.
• It was the first loss in a CAJUNDOME home opener since Nov. 25, 1996 (lost to SW Missouri State 81-74 in OT).
• Tech made two key rallies in the second half. Trailing 41-31, the Bulldogs outscored the Cajuns 12-4 to cut the UL lead to 45-43 at the 10:50 mark. Then in the final six minutes, with UL up 55-48, Tech ended the game on a 13-4 run.
• Louisiana shot 6-of-12 in the final 7:58 of the first half and built a 32-26 edge heading into halftime. The Cajuns forced Tech into 13 first-half turnovers.

HOME, SWEET DOME
• The 2008-09 campaign marks the 24th season of Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball at the 11,550-seat CAJUNDOME. Louisiana is 219-88 (.713) all-time at the facility.
• In the past 10-plus seasons, Louisiana has posted a 79-27 record in the CAJUNDOME (.745 winning percentage).

WE’VE GOT EXPERIENCE NOW
• Last season the Ragin’ Cajuns fielded one of the youngest rosters in the nation with 10 sophomores, three freshmen and only three seniors (13 underclassmen). Fast forward to this season and the Ragin’ Cajuns’ roster is loaded with one (1) senior and 10 juniors (11 upperclassmen).

HOMEGROWN TALENT
• The Ragin’ Cajuns roster will have a homegrown feel again this season. A total of 13 players from the state of Louisiana are on the 2008-09 roster.
• Louisiana has three players from Lafayette – Colby Batiste, Randell Daigle and La’Ryan Gary.

LOUISIANA GREAT RETURNS AS ASSISTANT COACH
• The Cajuns welcome a new assistant coach this season as former Louisiana standout Byron Starks replaces Johnny Simmons.
• Starks played for Louisiana from the 1990-91 through 1993-94 seasons. He ended his career with 1,592 points which ranks him 10th all-time in school history. Starks garnered All-Sun Belt honors in 1994 and was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game in the Cajuns’ 1992 NCAA Tournament upset victory over Oklahoma.
• Starks is the first former men’s basketball student-athlete to return to UL as an assistant coach since his former teammate Eric Mouton served under Marty Fletcher from 1994-97.

THE LAMAR SERIES (tied 39-39)
• First meeting since Dec. 14, 1999 (Cajuns won 81-79 in CAJUNDOME).
• Louisiana holds a 12-3 record vs. Lamar in the CAJUNDOME and has won the past seven meetings in the facility. Lamar’s last win in Lafayette came on Jan. 6, 1993 (76-73). The Cajuns are 28-9 all-time against the Cardinals in the city of Lafayette.
• Schools were conference foes in the Southland (1971-72 to 1981-82), American South (1987-88 to 1990-91) and Sun Belt (1991-92 to 1997-98). Lamar joined the SLC in ‘98-99.
• Series dates back to the 1951-52 season with the teams splitting 78 meetings. The Cajuns have won 10 of the last 14 meetings overall, to even the series.
• Jessie Evans (Louisiana) and Mike Deane (Lamar), were the head coaches the last time these two foes met.

LAST TIME VS. LAMAR (Dec. 14, 1999 in Lafayette– Louisiana won 81-79)
• Louisiana led by seven points at the 3:08 mark after Blane Harmon’s fifth 3-pointer made it 78-71. Lamar responded with an 8-2 run to close within one point with 1:15 left.

• UL’s David Patrick was fouled with 31 seconds remaining, but made only one of two free throws for a two-point (81-79) Cajuns lead. After a jump ball with two second left, Lamar kept possession and fortunately for UL Malcolm McCreight’s 3-point attempt fell short.
• Leading by five at halftime (41-36), the Cajuns came out of the locker room and built a 16-point lead midway through the second period. Lamar’s offense came alive, going on a 24-12 run over the next 6:31 to cut the Cajuns lead to 73-71 at the 3:22 mark.
• Lewis Arline led Lamar with 23 points (16 in 2nd half). Reggie DeGray posted a double-double for UL with a team-best 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

INTRODUCING “RAGE CAGE”
• During the preseason Louisiana conducted a contest designed to name the student section of the CAJUNDOME.
• Following a online poll vote, “Rage Cage” was selected and unveiled last Saturday.

TOUGH DEFENSE
• In 2007-08, Louisiana held opponents to 65.8 points per game – the lowest average in UL’s Division I era. Add four newcomers taller than 6’8” and the Cajuns’ defensive hold just might become stronger.

BACK TO DEFEND OUR CROWN
• For the first time under head coach Robert Lee, Louisiana enters the season as the defending Sun Belt Conference West Division champion.
• The Ragin’ Cajuns were picked to finish third in the 2008-09 SBC Preseason Poll.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns will travel on Friday for their first road game on the 2008-09 season. Louisiana visits Orem, Utah, for a meeting with Utah Valley on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (CT). UL is returning Utah Valley's visit last season when the Cajuns took a 67-59 victory on Jan. 15, 2008.

RaginCajuns.com



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