LOUISIANA La. – Louisiana’s basketball team has contracted a disease that doesn’t have a real name.

So call it ‘celebrationus interruptedus.”

The condition strikes just before the confetti falls, the banner unfurls and the trophy gets presented.

Just when the Ragin’ Cajuns appear ready to finalize their claim on all the prizes – the Sun Belt Conference’s overall title, the No. 1 seed for the league tournament and a third straight West Division crown – the symptoms hit.

The turnover thermometer shows readings much higher than normal, and a rash of offensive rebounds infects opponents. There’s also a notable lack of energy, especially late in games … apparently, a cumulative effect of the condition.

The treatment: Come home, and get some rest.

“We’re tired, and playing five in a row on the road didn’t help,” said coach Jessie Evans after his team struggled down the stretch in a 71-68 loss at North Texas Monday.

Resting up may not come until next week, but the other symptoms can be taken care of this weekend.

The Cajuns (15-8, 10-3) wrap up 19 days away from the Cajundome, ending a five-game road streak, when they host Arkansas State Thursday and Arkansas-Little Rock Saturday in the regular-season finales. Success either night, and it’s Mardi Gras all over again.

Since last seen at the ‘Dome, UL Lafayette has split four Sun Belt games and moved within a step of a summit never reached since its first Sun Belt season in 1991-92. The Cajuns have never won an outright, overall regular-season title in the league, but have been at the doorstep for several days, waiting to step in.

A win in either game this week would give the Cajun squad the outright title, as well as the top seed in the March 6-9 Sun Belt Tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.

“Our goals are all still in front of us,” Evans said, “but it’s not going to just happen. We’re going to have to go out and earn it. Arkansas State and Little Rock are not just going to give it to us.”

For much of Monday’s game, it appeared that the Cajuns would already have the title locked down heading into the home finales.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com