The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns fell to the visiting UTA Mavericks 80-77 in overtime on Saturday afternoon inside the Cajundome. The defeat is the team’s eighth in its last 10 games.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Jordan Brown set the game with a slam dunk which ignited a 7-2 run for the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Mavericks clawed back by taking advantage of turnovers by the Ragin’ Cajuns as a jumper by David Azore and a layup by Javon Levi made it a one-point game.
With less than eight minutes left in the half, Louisiana managed to push the lead up to seven points three times, each time due to buckets from Brown, but UTA responded each time. The final time Javon Levi answered Brown’s jumper with a three-pointer and Azore hit a three on the Mavericks’ next possession which made it a one-point game again.
With 2:04 left in the half, UTA would tie the game on an alleyoop dunk by Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu. Both teams went cold in the final few minutes but Louisiana managed to get a jumper by Ty Harper and a pair of free throws by Theo Akwuba to give them a 33-29 lead at halftime.
Louisiana pushed its lead up to as many as six to start the second half but UTA came right back and tied the game with a three by Azore and another dunk by Akobundu-Ehiogu. The Mavericks then took the lead with a three-pointer by Jack Hoiberg.
The two teams would continue to battle back-and-forth for the remainder of the second half, as neither team had a lead of more than three points in the final 16-pplus minutes of the game.
A jumper near the baseline by Kobe Julien gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 70-68 lead with 47 seconds left. UTA’s Akobundu-Ehiogu answered with a second-chance layup which tied the game. Azore would then steal the ball from Trajan Wesley but the Mavericks’ jumper was blocked by Kentrell Garnett. The Ragin’ Cajuns had a final shot partially blocked and the two teams headed to overtime.
After neither team scored in the first minute and half of overtime, Julien got things going with a free throw and then later a jumper. UTA responded with a pair of free throws by Nicolas Elame and then a layup by Shermar Wilson which gave the Mavericks the lead.
Louisiana’s Akwuba made a pair of free throws but then UTA’s Elame hit a second-chance layup. Louisiana’s Julien hit two free throws but Wilson made another layup.
With 20.9 seconds left in overtime, UTA held a 78-77 lead. After a timeout by Bob Marlin, the Ragin’ Cajuns inbounded the ball but as Julien drove to the basket the ball was stolen by Elame who was quickly fouled by Julien. Elame made both free throws to give UTA a 80-77 lead. Brayan Ayu’s desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer failed to hit the glass as the Ragin’ Cajuns fell at home.
BIG NUMBER: 21
The Ragin’ Cajuns were sloppy with the basketball as they committed 21 turnovers in the game, including 11 in the first half. The Mavericks scored 24 points off those 21 miscues.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: JORDAN BROWN
The Louisiana forward was a steady presence all game long as he recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (10-13, 5-8 SBC) returns to action with a road game Thursday at ULM. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m.