Old rival UNO stands between UL and NCAA

Louisiana is one game away from a return to college basketball’s “Big Dance.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns sprinted to an 11-point halftime lead against Middle Tennessee on Monday, then withstood the Blue Raiders’ challenge down the stretch for a 70-66 semifinal victory in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

If they make it a clean sweep of the weekend with a victory in tonight’s 8 p.m. final at E.A. Diddle Arena, the 19-8 Cajuns will earn the Sun Belt’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Waiting in the finals will be New Orleans, which defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 80-65 in Monday’s second semifinal.

“I thought it was the type of game I anticipated,” UL coach Jessie Evans said. “I knew we would have to play for 40 minutes. Both teams wanted the prize, and the prize is the championship game.”

The Cajuns hit 11 of their first 15 shots to rock the Raiders back on their heels, rolling to a 19-5 lead on an Orien Greene steal and slam with 13:41 to go in the first half and leading 28-15 on Brad Boyd’s 3-pointer from the right wing.

Although MT was able to get back within range, it still trailed 41-30 at the break on a breakaway layup by Brian Hamilton.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com