Louisiana makes a brief stop in its hometown for a meeting with South Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 24 in the CAJUNDOME. It’s the last home game in January and a buffer before a road trip to Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic next week.

● Tonight’s game marks the 42nd meeting in the Cajuns-Jaguars series. It’s the 33rd Sun Belt regular season meeting and 19th overall in the CAJUNDOME (UL 10-8).

● Saturday Success: The Ragin’ Cajuns have been victorious in their last three Saturday contests (Louisiana College, Denver and Troy).

● Welcome Back Ronnie: South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow, in his second tour of duty with the school, returns to the CAJUNDOME as the Jaguars’ head coach for the first time since Feb. 10, 1994 (then-USL won 86-77).

● It’s a pivotal contest for both teams. As the Sun Belt schedule nears the midway mark, UL sits a half game behind USA and Arkansas State for sixth place in the league standings. South Alabama is trying to keep pace with the league’s top five teams.

● The Cajuns are playing the second of five straight against Sun Belt East teams. Louisiana is 1-1 this season vs. the SBC East (W, 83-81 at Troy; L, 68-73 at WKU).

● The Cajuns’ perimeter game has heated up since the return of Randell Daigle. Louisiana has made 75 triples over eight games (9.4 per game). Prior to his return, the Cajuns had made 58 triples in the season’s first 10 games (5.8 per game).

GRADNIGO IN A GROOVE

● In the last six games Chris Gradnigo is shooting 40-of-75 (53 percent) and has made at least six field goals in five of the games. He is averaging 17.2 points per game during the stretch.

● On the UNO-Troy road trip, he averaged 16 points per game in only 20.5 minutes played per game. Gradnigo shot 12-of-21 from the floor (57 percent) and 6-of-7 (86 percent) from three-point range.

● Against UALR, Gradnigo scored 16 in the first half en route to establishing his season-high of 20. He also made a season-high eight field goals (8-of-15).

● At WKU he topped his season-highs in points (23) and field goals made (10). Gradnigo scored 15 by halftime and ended the game 10-of-15 from the field.

WILL WE HAVE FREE BASKETBALL?

● The last two games at the CAJUNDOME (2OT vs. Denver and OT vs. UALR) have gone into overtime. Combined, fans were treated to three extra periods of basketball.

THREE IS BETTER THAN ONE

● Louisiana has had at least three players score in double figures in each of the last five games.

BLOCK PARTY

● Tonight’s game features the Sun Belt’s top shot blocking teams. USA leads the league with a 5.32 average, while UL is a close second with a 5.28 average.

● Ronald Douglas (USA) ranks third and Tyren Johnson (UL) ranks seventh in the SBC.

THE TRIPLE THREAT

● The combination of Travis Bureau, Randell Daigle and Chris Gradnigo fuel the Louisiana offense.

● They combine to average 40.6 points of the Cajuns’ 66.6 average (61%).

● They combine for 89 three-point field goals made out of UL’s 133 (67%).

● Overall shooting percentages: Bureau (47.2%), Gradnigo (47.1%), Daigle (43.9%).

THE SHARPSHOOTERS

● The Ragin’ Cajuns have three players shooting above 40 percent from three-point range – Ryan McCoy (48%), Randell Daigle (45%) and Travis Bureau (43%)

“RADAR” DIALS ‘EM HOME

● Randell Daigle is shooting 24-of-53 from three-point range (45.3%) in eight games since returning from injury.

● Daigle is averaging 3.0 triples per game and has made at least four in four games.

EXTRA BASKETBALL

● UL played its third overtime affair of the season last Thursday vs. UALR.

● The last time the Cajuns had three OT games – 2005-06.

● The Cajuns have played 10 OT games under Robert Lee (5-5 record).

● When’s the last time a Cajuns team had four OT games in a season? 1991-92.

WKU LEFTOVERS

● WKU extended its current win streak in the series to five games. The Toppers now lead the series 23-14, overall, and 13-6 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

● Chris Gradnigo scored 23 points, two points off his career-high. He made a season-high 10 field goals and the points total was also a new season-high.

● Down 63-51 with 7:07 to play, the Cajuns used a 12-3 run to create a one-possession game with 2:55 remaining.

● Travis Bureau returned to action after missing the UAB game, but missed his first six shots and was scoreless for the first 33 minutes of the game. He finished with six points.

● Ryan McCoy scored 17 points. It marked the third time in the last four SBC games he scored in double figures. He added a game-high three steals.

LAST TIME VS. USA
(Jan. 24, 2008 in Mobile, Ala. – USA won 66-60)

● Several key misses by South Alabama resulted in Louisiana owning a commanding 13-point edge, 34-21. USA closed the first half with six straight points.

● An 11-3 South Alabama run allowed the Jaguars to tie the game at 44 all with 11:37 remaining in regulation.

● Three minutes later, USA took its first lead since mid-way through the first half, 50-48.

● Randell Daigle answered with his signature 23-foot triple from the top of the key, regaining a one-point lead for the Cajuns, 51-50.

● USA responded with another run, reeling off eight straight points for a 58-51 lead. UL got within four (61-57), but a crucial turnover inside of one minute to play allowed the Jaguars to clinch the win at the free throw line.

LAST TIME VS. USA IN CAJUNDOME
(Jan. 16, 2007 – USA won 73-69)

● Louisiana was clinging to a 61-59 lead and had the basketball with a chance at increasing its lead as the five-minute mark approached.

● Willie Lago had an open look at the basket and a four-point lead, but he opted to kick the ball out to the perimeter. Unfortunately none of the Cajuns were waiting for the pass and the Jaguars collected the loose ball.

● South Alabama worked the ball inside to Ernest Little who hit a turnaround jumper to create a 61-all tie with 4:37 left in the game. After Ross Mouton missed a three-pointer the Jaguars found Stephen Cowherd for a three-point make which gave USA a 64-61 lead at 3:46 that created the game’s 28th and final lead change.

SERIES HISTORY
(Louisiana leads 22-19, overall; Louisiana leads 10-9 in Lafayette; Louisiana leads 10-9 in CAJUNDOME)

● Louisiana leads the all-time series 22-19 and has won six of the last 10 meetings.

● The visiting team has won five of the last seven meetings. South Alabama has won three of the last four CAJUNDOME meetings. USA is on a two-game win streak in the ‘DOME.

● Nine of the last 11 regular season meetings have been decided by single digits.

● All but four meetings in the series have occurred during the Sun Belt Conference Era. Louisiana holds a 19-13 lead in SBC regular season contests.

● In his first tour of duty with USA, Ronnie Arrow was 1-3 vs. Louisiana in the CAJUNDOME.

● Cajuns and Jaguars meet as conference rivals for the 18th straight season (since ’91-92).

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA

It's back on the road again for the Ragin' Cajuns. Louisiana travels to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a meeting with Sun Belt East Division favorite Middle Tennessee on Thursday, Jan. 29. Game time at the Murphy Center is 7 p.m. The Blue Raiders have won the last three meetings overall and the past two in the Murphy Center.

After the MT game, Louisiana ventures to south Florida to meet Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Cajuns and Owls are scheduled to meet at approximately 6 p.m. (CST) as the second half of a doubleheader with the UL-FAU women's teams. It will be the Cajuns second visit to FAU Arena (L, 72-75 on Jan. 24, 2007).

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