LAFAYETTE, La. (2/2/06) Louisiana-Lafayette (6-14, 2-7) connected on 50 percent of its shots and held North Texas (12-8, 5-4) to a season-low .288 field goal percentage as it claimed a 77-58 victory over the Mean Green on Thursday night at the Cajundome in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game.
The Mean Green finished with five more steals, three fewer turnovers and 41 rebounds, but its 58 points were its second fewest in a game this season. The Ragin’ Cajuns blocked 11 North Texas shots and recorded five steals.
North Texas has dropped back-to-back games for just the second time this season, while the Ragin’ Cajuns snapped a two-game skid with the win.
North Texas was charged with 12 first-half fouls and the Ragin’ Cajuns converted 10-of-16 free throws while shooting 48 percent from the field to take a 37-24 halftime lead. Leading 17-14, UL Lafayette went on a 10-3 run to open up a double-figure lead and led by as many as 18 points in the opening half. North Texas scored the half’s final five points to close the gap to 13 at the break.
North Texas pulled within 36-47 of the Ragin’ Cajuns with 14:08 left in the game, but couldn’t get any closer.
Lionel Brown was the only North Texas player to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Kendrick Davis, the Mean Green’s leading scorer, was held to a season-low two points. Isaac Hines led NT on the boards with six rebounds and also recorded five steals and five points.
Louisiana-Lafayette was led by three players scoring in double figures. Chris Cameron and Michael Southall each scored a game-high 15 points and combined for 14 rebounds.
North Texas will close out a two-game road swing Saturday when it plays
New Orleans at 7 p.m. in another Sun Belt Conference West Division match-up. Every North Texas game can be heard live on KWRD (100.7 FM) in the
Dallas/
Fort Worth area.
