LAS CRUCES -- New Mexico State men's basketball coach Lou Henson said his team must be better at stopping transition baskets if the Aggies are to be successful tonight against Louisiana-Lafayette.

On Jan. 22 in Lafayette, the Ragin' Cajuns used their athleticism to get past NMSU, 67-53.

"We have to get back on defense and not let them leak out on the break," Henson said. "We'll need to get two guys back and, if we don't have a shot at the offensive rebound, the other guys have to get back. And we have to take good shots. You can stop fast breaks by taking good shots."

The Ragin' Cajuns enter tonight's contest with a 14-6 overall record and a 9-2 Sun Belt mark. UL-Lafayette leads the Sun Belt West with a 9-2 record, two games ahead of New Orleans.

"Louisiana-Lafayette is very talented. They have experience at every position and they are very athletic," Henson said.

The Ragin' Cajuns have five players averaging in double figures, led by guards Antoine Landry (14.0 points), Brad Boyd (12.6) and Orien Greene (11.9.)

Greene said the key for the Ragin' Cajuns, who had an eight-game winning streak snapped Saturday at New Orleans, will be to get out on transition and rebound well.

"We like to run and get easy baskets," he said. "We didn't play well against New Orleans. We shot poorly. But we have to put that game behind. New Mexico State is the next challenge for us."

When Greene, a junior, joined Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 17, head coach Jessie Evans said the new guard would help the team run like a Ferrari.

Evans' assessment wasn't far off, as Greene has helped the Ragin' Cajuns head for the division's top spot. The team had won eight in a row with Greene in the lineup before Saturday.

"I'm just trying to help the team in any way possible," Greene said. "It just feels good to be out here contributing and we're doing well. We have several guards that can do good things in different situations."

I can play either a point- or off-guard position and that is helpful."

Greene is third on the team in scoring at 11.9, is averaging 5.3 rebounds and has nabbed 23 steals.

"I like defense, I just want to provide a spark on that end of the court," Greene said.

Greene played two years at the University of Florida, where he played in 61

games and was a prime contributor on two NCAA Tournament teams. He sat out

last season and part of this year, restoring his eligibility.

"It just feels good to be back on the court and contributing in a role,"

Greene said. "I learned at Florida you have to bring it every night and play hard all the time. That's what I'm trying to do here."

Said Henson: "Orien is solid, he helps make that team better in all aspects of the game."

Greene's play-making ability was evident in UL-Lafayette's 79-73 win against South Alabama last Thursday. The Ragin' Cajuns were down, 68-59, when Green hit three straight 3-pointers to tie the game at 68. He later hit another trey to put the team up four, then assisted on a basket after USA cut the lead to 75-73.

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Felix Chavez
El Paso Times