Cajuns Smother Texas State, 64-42

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns closed the first half on a 21-6 run and then outscored Texas State 14-4 to open the second half, blowing out the Bobcats 64-42 before 3,879 Thursday night at the CAJUNDOME.

Louisiana (15-12, 9-7 Sun Belt) trailed 14-9 with 11:48 to go in the first half, but then ran off 13 of the next 15 points to lead 22-16 with 6:08 to play.  Texas State had just one field goal in the final 13:20 of the first half and the Cajuns had a 30-20 lead at the break.

Shawn Long started the Cajuns' run with a three point basket at the 11:00 mark and Jay Wright followed with a steal and a layup to tie the game at 14-14.  After two Kavin Gilder-Tilbury free throws, Devonta Walker hit a layup after a turnover, Kasey Shepherd scored a layup after a Brian Williams steal and then assisted Walker on a dunk eighteen seconds later to give the Cajuns a 20-16 lead.  Shepherd then assisted Vieux Kande on a layup and after two free throws by JaMarcus Weatherspoon, Wright hit a triple and then assisted Long on a dunk to put the Cajuns on top 27-18.  Gilder-Tilbury finally broke the field goal drought with 1:52 to play, but Wright hit another three pointer as the clock ran out and the Cajuns had the ten point halftime lead.  Texas State missed nine straight shots and turned the ball over eight times during the Cajuns' run from 13:20 to the 1:52 mark.

Wright hit a layup to open the second half and Emani Gant followed with a layup for Texas State.  Long hit a layup and Shepherd made two free throws to stretch the lead to fourteen points with 18:24 left.  After Naylor made two free throws, Shepherd assisted Long on a layup, Bryce Washington made a free throw and Shepherd hit a layup and a three pointer and the Cajuns had a 44-24 lead with 15:24 left in the game.  Texas State never got closer than fifteen points the rest of the way.

Long led the Cajuns with 17 points, while Shepherd added 14 and Wright had 13.  Devonta Walker led the Cajuns in rebounding with eight, while Long added seven and Shepherd six as the Cajuns won the rebounding battle 40-29.

Naylor led Texas State (10-16, 5-11) with 14 points while Wes Davis added ten.  The Cajuns held leading scorer Emani Gant to just six points on 3-12 from the field.  Gilder-Tilbury, who scored 20 points against the Cajuns in San Marcos, was held to just one field goal and four points as the Cajuns held the Bobcats to just 32 percent shooting for the night.  The Bobcats were 0-8 from three point range.

An interesting turn of events happened in the first half when official Ray Acosta ran into Bob Marlin, knocking over the Cajuns' coach.  Acosta then assessed a technical foul and Marlin had to be restrained by players and coaches after the "T" was called.  After consultation and a look at the monitor, the technical foul was rescinded and a coaches box warning was issued.

The Cajuns now head to Arlington to take on UT Arlington Saturday night at the College Park Center.