UL win, Denver loss knot two teams atop West at 6-1

Like link sausage and most of our nation's laws, the latest victory by Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns was prettier as a finished product than it was in the making.

The Cajuns shot 32 percent from the field and failed to hit a 3-point basket for the first time in 95 games, but still held off the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 54-44 on Saturday before 6,133 fans at the Cajundome.

Coach Robert Lee's squad roared ahead 20-5 to start the game, but needed a 10-2 stretch at game's end to improve to 12-7 overall and 6-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.

UL is now tied with Denver atop the West Division, since New Orleans knocked off Denver 71-61 at Lakefront Arena.

Middle Tennessee, which was held to 27.3 percent shooting, dropped to 13-8 and 3-4.

"Well, I thought it was a beautiful basketball game," Lee said. "A bunch of kids making a bunch of baskets. No, seriously, I'm really proud of the way we were able to win a game in a different way. It doesn't have to be an up-tempo game for us to win."

It was a marked departure from Thursday's 91-76 triumph over rival Western Kentucky, but it was still a double-digit win.

"Going 0-for-16 from 3-point range is an unbelievable stat," Lee said. "It's easy to play defense when you're making shots. It's not as easy when you're not making them. I'm proud of the guts we showed on the defensive end."

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com