Ragin' Cajuns defeat USA 79-73

[Turbine]

I have heard some references to the Ragin' Cajuns as the "L Train" this year.

Not bad.

If that sticks let me just say the Ragin Cajuns kept the "L Train" on track last night, when they went on the road to Mobile and stayed on track with a 79-73 win over the USA Jaguars.

Hey "L Train" Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

[NewsCopy]

MOBILE, Ala. - Orien Greene racked up 28 points and Antoine Landry added 15 to help lead Louisiana to a 79-73 victory over South Alabama Thursday.

Greene scored 19 of those points in the second half to head off a final comeback by Louisiana. The Ragin Cajuns (14-5, 9-1 Sun Belt Conference) trailed by a point at the half, 37-36.

It was revenge for the Cajuns, whose last loss was a 76-73 fall to South Alabama (9-13, 3-7) last month. Louisiana has won eight consecutive games since then.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

this story was written by a non local writer who thinks UL is known as Lafayette

Lafayette's Orien Greene scores 28 as South Alabama drops sixth straight Sun Belt Conference game

There was one big difference in Thursday night's meeting between South Alabama and Louisiana-Lafayette at the Mitchell Center compared to an earlier meeting won by the Jaguars on the road: Orien Greene.

The University of Florida transfer pulled the Ragin' Cajuns back into the game and lifted them to a 79-73 victory with his 11-of-15 shooting from the floor, including a 6-of-10 showing from 3-point range, for a game-high 28 points. Greene had missed the previous game in Lafayette because he had not been ruled eligible at the time.

He was eligible and accurate Thursday night, scoring 19 of his points and hitting five of his 3-pointers in the second half to send USA to its sixth straight Sun Belt Conference loss.

"The whole key to the game was we couldn't stop Orien, said South Alabama coach John Pelphrey, who coached Greene when he was an assistant at Florida. He was fantastic tonight. He stepped up and hit shot after shot. O.G. has a great, great feel for the game. He can pass and he understands spacing. ... That's about as good a performance as you'll ever see.

The loss further damages South Alabama's hopes of qualifying for the Sun Belt tournament. Only the top eight teams in the 11-team league will earn a spot in the tournament and the Jags are now 3-7 in the league, last in the West Division, and 9-13 overall. Lafayette improved to 9-1 in the Sun Belt, its only loss to the Jags, and 14-5 overall.

Despite shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, including a season-high 23 points from Michael Phillips, who had 17 at the half, South Alabama couldn't gain the series sweep against the Cajuns.

With the Jags holding a nine-point advantage, 68-59, with 6:55 to play, Greene went on a tear, scoring three consecutive three-pointers, two of those from well behind the arc. The last of the trio of treys tied the game at 68-all with 4:53 to go.

Greene hit another three with 2:19 left for a 73-69 lead. After a Phillips basket, Greene lofted an ally-oop pass to Dwayne Mitchell, who slammed it home, a basket that energized the Cajuns and appeared to take some steam from the Jags.

"Once I got in a rhythm, I felt good, Greene said of his shooting display. I felt like everything was going to go in.

The rest of the story

By TOMMY HICKS
Sports Reporter

[CajunCharlie]

Turbine, I was at the game, and the good times were few and far betweem, except for Orien Green. Our defense played poorly, except for the final seconds when they needed to step up. They a few other moments, but overall we did not have that intensity we had been showing in past games. In my opinion it was our poorest showing this season. But I will take the win. Hopefully, they got the wake up call! UNO is waiting and frothing at the mouth, I'm certain!!
They do have a beautiful facility. Wish we had it.

[CajunCharlie]

Photo of Cajun pre-game warmup

[CajunCharlie]

Action photo of Cajuns on the offensive.

[CajunCharlie]

Cajuns post game thanksgiving prayer for "deliverance"

[CajunCharlie]

THE BEST PHOTO OF THE NIGHT

[Turbine]

Very cool pics cajuncharlie, you ARE a road worthy warrior. Thanks a bunch.

As far as the lackluster performance is concerned... I don't know why, but most teams -even the good ones- seem to go through lulls at some point.

Louisiana is fortunate OohGee was there this time to step up and take control.

[shof]

Very nice looking facility. Does anyone know what the seating capacity is, and how many were on hand last night?

[CajunCharlie]

OohGee earned his scholarship last night. He was superb. It was kind of amusing to hear the crowd groan whenever he had the ball beyond the 3 point line. Yes, it is inevitable that all teams, I think, have perfromance lapses. I do hope we got this one out of our system, especially with the end of the season and the conference tourney in sight. I will take photos at the UNO game. Will you be there?

[CajunCharlie]

Shof, the announced attendance was 2,600+. Did not seem to be that many, but I am not good at estimating crowds. I would guess that the seating capacity of their arena in in the 9,000 range. It is a beautiful facility. There are statistic boards on each end of the court that give real time info on each teams shooting, turnovers,etc. Along the sides they have info, real time, on each teams players scoring and personal fouls. As I said earlier, I would take it for our program in a heartbeat.