RUSTON, Louisiana – The Louisiana men's basketball team looks to get back on track this Saturday in Ruston against Louisiana Tech. The Cajuns had a three-game winning streak snapped last week at Samford.
Kobe Julien continues to dazzle and earned his second straight Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday. The junior has been on a tear, scoring 19 points last Monday against Loyola (La.) in just 19 minutes of action. He followed that with a 29-point performance at Samford while grabbing six rebounds.
The Cajuns and Bulldogs have traded their last four meetings, with the home team coming away victorious each time. The last time the road team won was in 2018 when the Cajuns fell in Lafayette but the previous season the Cajuns were the victors up in Ruston.
Story Lines
• Kobe Julien has been carrying the load offensively for the Cajuns, earning back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Over the last 5 games, the junior is averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He's gone over 20 points three times, including a career-high 30 against Buffalo and 29 at Samford. Julien has done all that while also shooting .534 percent from the field.
• Julien is one of six players in the country averaging at least 19 points per game while shooting at least .480/.450/.850.
• Joe Charles continues to be one of the best players on the floor for the Cajuns and has recorded four double-doubles in eight games. That places him 10th nationally and second in the SBC this season.
• The Cajuns are the only team in the country with two games with 18 or more made three-pointers this year.
• Louisiana looks for a Quad 1 road win against Louisiana Tech. Since 2019-20, the Cajuns home win over the Bulldogs on Dec. 12, 2020, is the only one against a team that finished the season ranked in the top 100 in NET rankings. Tech would finish the season ranked 71.
GAME 9 PREVIEW – Louisiana (5-3, 0-0 SBC) vs. Louisiana Tech (7-2, 0-0 CUSA)
Date / Time: December 9, 2023 / 2 p.m.
Site: Ruston, Louisiana
Arena: Thomas Assembly Center (8,000)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana Tech leads, 73-61
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 39-23
In Ruston: Louisiana Tech leads, 16-44
Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 4-0
Unknown Sites: Louisiana Tech leads, 3-5
Streak: Louisiana +1