Ragin' Cajuns open 2005 on road at Vanderbilt

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun men's basketball team has proven it can win on the road. Now it's time to take that proof to another level.

The Cajuns play their final non-conference road game today when they travel to face Vanderbilt's Commodores in a rare Sunday contest at Memorial Coliseum in Nashville.

The Cajuns (5-5) posted a buzzer-beating 71-70 victory over McNeese State in Lake Charles back on Dec. 23 in their last outing, that win courtesy of senior Chris Cameron's three-point basket with 0.9 seconds left. The win was UL's first on a hostile court this season.

However, head coach Robert Lee said his team will have to play better than in that win today against an 8-4 Vanderbilt team that has won four straight games and is 8-0 in Memorial Coliseum this year.

"They're a very solid team," Lee said during preparations for the first meeting between the clubs since 1966. "They're probably the most solid fundamental team that we've played this season, especially at home."

The Commodores' only losses this season are two games in the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational, a loss to Oregon in Portland and a 16-point setback at nationally-ranked Cincinnati.

Vanderbilt has beaten TCU, Central Michigan, Appalachian State and Dayton in its current streak, downing the Flyers 90-74 Wednesday night in its last outing. The Commodores had six players in double figures in that win, and backup Dan Cage and 7-foot-2 forward Dawid Przybyszewski each hit five three-pointers - part of VU's 13-of-23 three-point performance.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Maybe it was the nine-day layoff, or the mystique of Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym with its odd sightlines and configuration.

One thing was for sure - not much went right for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun men's basketball team here Sunday evening in its first action since Dec. 23.

UL (5-6) made its first field goal attempt of the game, a 3-pointer by Tiras Wade, but misfired on its next 11 attempts. Vanderbilt (9-4) rolled off a 19-0 run which swung the momentum in the early stages of what became a 71-44 Vanderbilt victory.

"It's a pretty simple game," said Cajun coach Robert Lee. "You have to be able to put the ball in the basket, and we couldn't make shots. If you can't make baskets, you can't win."

The Cajuns shot a season-low 29 percent for the game, making 16-of-56 field goal attempts. UL had just six assists to 19 turnovers and didn't reach 40 points until 2:06 remained in the contest. In fact, Louisiana was held to single digits through the first 14:50 of the opening half.

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[DaddyCajun]

Vandy just beat Bama!!!!!! SIU beat Vandy, UL beat SIU!!!!

Geaux Louisiana!!