Cajuns Close Out Regular Season Schedule Against Red Wolves

UL junior guard Elfrid Payton

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun men’s basketball team returns to the hardwood on Saturday night, when coach Bob Marlin’s squad travels to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to take on the Arkansas St. Red Wolves in Sun Belt Conference action.

The game marks the regular season finale for both teams, with the postseason Sun Belt Conference Tournament beginning on Thursday, in New Orleans.

Louisiana, who lost to WKU, 75-72, on Thursday, has still won seven of their last nine games, and currently stand at 19-11, overall, and 10-7 in Sun Belt Conference play.

That 10-7 league mark puts the Cajuns in a third-place tie with Arkansas St. in the conference standings.

Arkansas St., who is 18-11, overall, and 10-7 in league play, has won seven of their last ten games.

The winner of tonight's game will clinch the number three seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, and will play Friday night at 8:30 pm against either the six or the seven-seed.

The loser tonight will enter the tournament as the 4-seed, and will play Friday night at 6 o'clock against either the five or the eight-seed

Offensively, UL currently leads the conference, scoring 81.9 points-per-game,  while ASU ranks third, averaging 76.1 points a contest.

Defensively, the Cajuns rank ninth in the league, allowing 74.7  points-per-game, while the Red Wolves are giving up 70.6 points a tilt, which is sixth in the conference.

Louisiana is led by junior guard Elfrid Payton, who is averaging 19.4 points-per-game, to go along with 5.9 assists-per-game, which rank second and first in the league, respectively, while Arkansas St. is paced by senior forward Kirk Van Slyke, who is averaging 15.3 points-per-game.

The Cajuns won the earlier match-up this season, defeating the Red Wolves, 85-67, back on February 25 at the Cajundome, and lead the all-time series, 45-23.

Tip-off time is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

You can hear all the play-by-play action on Sports Radio ESPN 1420 & espn1420.com, as well as Hot 107.9 & 1079ishot.com, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:35 pm.