Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns fell behind 17-2 in the first five minutes and never could climb all the way out of the hole and dropped a 62-60 decision to Arkansas State Thursday evening at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Cajuns (8-12, 5-4 Sun Belt) shot below 40 percent in Sun Belt play for the first time this season and that kept them behind double figures for them majority of the contest. UL ended the night 25-of-68 (36.8 percent).

When Tyren Johnson buried a triple with 1:58 remaining the ASU lead was down to 60-56. ASU missed free throws on three separate one-and-one opportunities in the final 30 seconds and UL had the chance to win the game as the horn sounded. Raymone Andrews' three-point attempt sailed wide and ASU (12-8, 7-2 Sun Belt) held on.

The Cajuns will look back at the stretch from 6:54 through 3:57 when after they cut the deficit to 56-48 and ASU went cold, they didn't score any points.

Johnson led Louisiana with 19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Chris Gradnigo scored 15 and Travis Bureau scored double figures for the first time since Dec. 12 vs. FAU as he registered 12 points.

ASU was led by 19 points from Brandon Reed. The Red Wolves shot 24-of-53 (45.3 percent) and were 13-of-26 (50 percent) in building a double-figure lead by halftime.

The loss prevented the Cajuns from moving into first place in the SBC West. UALR defeated Denver which would have vaulted the Cajuns past the Pioneers if they would've won.

The Red Wolves connected on their first four attempts and bolted out to a 10-2 lead just 2:18 into the contest. ASU added seven more unanswered following a Cajuns timeout and led 17-2 by the 15:36 mark.

The Cajuns defense stepped up and held ASU to 1-of-7 shooting from the 15-minute timeout through the 11-minute timeout. When Johnson completed a three-point play at 12:16 the deficit was lowered to 17-10.

UL went through a second scoring drought and the Red Wolves rolled off nine straight points for a 26-10 lead with 7:43 remaining in the opening frame.

Gradnigo provided six points for the Cajuns just inside of seven minutes, but the Red Wolves made three of their next four attempts and maintained the double-figure lead. It was 34-19 with 4:00 on the clock.

The Cajuns limited ASU to just two attempts in the final 2:42 and crept back within 11 points, 36-25, following an Andrews layup after a steal near midcourt.

The ASU three-point defense - tops in the Sun Belt and sixth nationally - held Louisiana to 0-for-9 in the opening half. UL was able to catch up by scoring 14 points off ASU turnovers in the final 15 minutes.

The Red Wolves got baskets from Trey Finn and Reed on their first two touches in the 19-minute mark of the second half to push the lead to 15 points. After a Randell Daigle triple at 18:38, Martavius Adams drove to the hoop for a three-point play that returned the lead to 15 at 43-28 with 18:15 remaining.

A Bureau reverse layup at 9:43 that made it 51-42 was followed by a Reed triple at 9:27 and Jeremy Thomas dunk at 9:10 for a 56-42 ASU advantage.

The Ragin' Cajuns departed Jonesboro immediately after the game to head to Monroe for a meeting with the Warhawks (9-13, 4-7 Sun Belt) on Saturday, Jan. 30. Game time at Fant-Ewing Coliseum is set for 4:30 p.m.

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