Visiting Jags overcome 13-point deficit for win

LOUISIANA La. — This isn’t supposed to happen in the Cajundome.

The South Alabama Jaguars stunned UL Lafayette Thursday night, staging a 16-3 closing rush to score a 76-73 victory in front of 4,756 fans.

When junior center Chris Cameron curled underneath for a layup with 5:33 to play, coach Jessie Evans’ Ragin’ Cajuns were ahead of the visitors by a seemingly comfortable 70-60.

But UL notched only one other basket in the closing minutes and fell to 6-5 on the season and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. South Alabama improved to 7-7, 2-1.

“We didn’t play good the whole game,” senior guard Brad Boyd said. “We won at Denver, but didn’t play well. Maybe we’re not that good. I don’t know.”

“This was a tough loss for us,” Evans said. “That normally doesn’t happen in the Cajundome.

“Our margin for error is very small, and when you turn the ball over and don’t make smart plays down the stretch, both at the end of the first half and the end of the game, you’re not going to be successful.”

The final blow came when senior Laurie Bridges misfired on a pass for Brian Hamilton trailing by 74-73 with 8 seconds to play. Richard Law wrapped up the win with a pair of free throws.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com