New Orleans derails Cajun streak at eight

NEW ORLEANS — The Ragin’ Cajun Express got derailed on Saturday.

Louisiana shot a miserable 15-of-59 from the field and never seemed to find an edge as the New Orleans Privateers administered a 68-54 whipping before 2,165 fans at Lakefront Arena.

The loss snapped the Cajuns’ eight-game win streak and dropped them to 14-6 and 9-2 in Sun Belt Conference play.

UNO crept within two games in the Sun Belt’s Western Division at 7-4 in addition to sitting 13-11 on the season.

“I think we’re a good team,” UL coach Jessie Evans said, “but there are a number of good teams in this league, and if we’re not playing together as a unit we can get beat.”

It was a stark reversal of the teams’ first meeting this year in the Cajundome, an 85-64 UL triumph.

“The difference is, I think they wanted it a lot more than we did,” said Cajun senior Laurie Bridges, a New Orleans product who came through with 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

“They outplayed us. They whipped us on the boards (49-43 at game’s end). And, we didn’t hit shots we normally hit.”

“I didn’t think we were patient enough,” Evans said. “On the road, you need to be more selective.

“Coming to New Orleans, we seem to get excited and want to make the big play. If you’re playing well as a team, the big play will take care of itself.”

Indeed, there were times when the confident Cajuns seemed to be gunning for style points in the televised contest on soaring — and at times unsuccessful — dunks.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com