Shorthanded, UL Falls in Season Finale

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The 2009-10 regular season came to an end on Saturday for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns without the help of seven players, as the squad lost 63-47 at Magness Arena in Denver. The Ragin' Cajuns

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The 2009-10 regular season came to an end on Saturday for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns without the help of seven players, as the squad lost 63-47 at Magness Arena in Denver.

The Ragin' Cajuns (13-16, 10-8 Sun Belt) seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament will depend on the result of the Troy at Arkansas State game being played later Saturday. The Cajuns will be the No. 7 seed with a Troy victory or the No. 8 seed if ASU wins.

Playing 30 minutes is tough for any visiting player in the Mile High City. The Cajuns were forced to play three players at least 37 minutes.

UL was happy to slow the pace with only eight players dressed in uniform for the game.

The Cajuns went without a field goal for 10:05, a span that ended the first half (5:10) and began the second (4:55). Despite the struggles, UL stayed close.

With the help of four free throws and then a triple by Tyren Johnson, the Cajuns' deficit was only four points, 32-28, with 15 minutes left in the game.

Five minutes later the Cajuns trailed by eight points and were growing increasingly frustrated. Denver's physical play, and lack of fouls, had UL out of synch in their half court sets.

Leading by eight points with five minutes remaining, DU used three-pointers by Brian Stafford and Chase Hallam to take a 54-40 lead with 3:38 remaining. Hallam's fourth triple made it 59-43 with only 2:11 remaining.

Johnson led the Cajuns with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in 39 minutes.

Hallam led DU with 20 points. Stafford scored 14 points and Nate Rohnert added 11 points.

The Pioneers (17-12, 10-8 Sun Belt) started the game 1-of-8 from three-point range. The Cajuns were 3-of-4 to take a 15-11 lead with nine minutes left in the first half.

Back-to-back triples from Hallam gave DU a 17-15 lead, but the Cajuns quickly tied the game on a dunk from Colby Batiste.

A three-pointer by Andrew Hooper and another from Hallam pushed the Pioneers lead to 27-21. The Cajuns scoreless streak at the end of the first half created a six-point deficit.

Former Ragin' Cajuns wide receiver, and current member of the Denver Broncos, Brandon Stokley was in attendance with his son, Cameron.

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