Cajuns Fall To Georgia Tech In Pre-season Nit
Louisiana's season-opening win streak snapped at three
ATLANTA - A cold-shooting first half coupled with a pair of field-goal droughts were the difference here Tuesday night for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team in the opening round of the Pre-Season National Invitational Tournament against Georgia Tech
While the Cajuns weren't having any fortune with their shots, making just 6-of-24 first-half attempts, Ga. Tech's quickness and shot accuracy was able to help propel the Yellow Jackets on a 24-5 run in the latter portion of the opening frame to open up a two-point game en route to the 79-45 victory in the regular season opener for both squads.
With the loss, Louisiana (0-1) lost a season opener for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Georgia Tech (1-0) shot 46 percent (16-of-35) from the floor in the first half to the Cajuns 25 percent and continued to knock down shots in the second half connecting on 62 percent (18-of-29) of its attempts while the Cajuns remained cold at 29 percent (9-of-31).
The Yellow Jackets placed three players in double-figures led by 17 from B.J. Elder. Isma'il Muhammad contributed 13 points and seven boards off the bench while Jarret Jack tacked on 12 while serving up 11 assists.
The Cajuns received a team-high 13 points from senior Antoine Landry, who connected on three 3-point field goals, while Chris Cameron put up 10 points while grabbing a team-best eight rebounds. Cameron also converted on a team-high eight free throws.
Brad Boyd, last season's leading scorer, was held in check by the GT defense being limited to just six points and two 3-point baskets on 2-of-12 shooting.
The Yellow Jackets had a commanding 45-29 edge in the rebounding department including 16 offensive boards.
The GT defense pressured the Cajuns into 19 turnovers and had 21 assists compared to only five for Louisiana.
Louisiana was playing Tuesday's game shorthanded as five players, including last season's leading rebounder Michael Southall, all ineligible for the Fall 2003 semester were forced to sit out the game.
Louisiana was within six points at 17-11 with 10:29 left in the first half before the Yellow Jackets opened up their first double-digit lead of the evening with a 7-0 run.
The Cajuns were able to snap the run on a fade-away jumper from Brian Hamilton at the 8:34 mark.
However, that would be the Cajuns final field goal until the final minute, a stretch of nearly eight minutes, of the half as GT began to pull away.
The Yellow Jackets would take advantage using an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to increase the lead to 32-13 at the 6:10 mark.
Chris Cameron ended the run with a pair of free throws at the 4:49 mark.
Hamilton ended the Cajuns field-goal drought with a driving layup with 52 seconds remaining before half and Antoine Landry capped off the stanza with a four-foot jumper with six seconds left to trim the GT lead to 38-21 at the break.
Three-point baskets by Landry and Boyd in the first few minutes kept the Cajuns within striking distance early in the second frame. Boyd's three pulled UL within 15 points at 42-27 with 18:24 remaining in the game.
But the shooting woes which plagued the Cajuns in the first half surfaced again and the Yellow Jackets responded with a 15-0 run to put the game out of reach.
UL was held without a field goal for nearly six minutes, after Boyd's make, as the Jackets staged the decisive run.
The Yellow Jackets broke up an early 4-4 tie with a three-point basket from Anthony McHenry at the 16:57 mark. A free throw from Isma'il Muhammad pushed the GT lead to 8-4.
UL was able to draw even following the first media timeout.
At the 14:50 mark Cameron was fouled on a putback attempt from a missed three-pointer by Boyd. Cameron made the first freebie, but would miss the second.
Hamilton was able to grab hold of the rebound and quickly kicked it back to Boyd at the top of the key and the senior sharpshooter drilled his first three of the game to forge an 8-8 tie.
Georgia Tech would then get a basket from Clarence Moore at the 13:38 mark to regain the lead for good at 10-8.
Louisiana will return to action on Monday, Nov. 24 as the Ragin' Cajuns play host to Loyola-New Orleans in a 7:05 p.m. contest in the Cajundome.
LOUISIANA SI
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