Cajuns stun UNT 93-88

The team Bob Marlin has been waiting to see all season made it's appearance at the Cajundome Thursday night.

And make no mistake about it.  On this night, the Cajuns were a better team than the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt.

The Cajuns placed seven in double figures, got career games from Sophomores Raymone Andrews and Javan Mitchell, and senior Randall Daigle reached the 1,000 point mark in his career as Louisiana surprised North Texas 93-88 at the Cajundome.

North Texas' only lead of the game was 2-0.  The game's last tie was at 10-10.

Andrews, a sophomore from Hammond, played the best game of his young career.  In 31 minutes, Andrews scored a season high 11 points, including four clutch free throws down the stretch.  He also dished out a career-high six assists, had three steals and did not turn the ball over a single time.

Mitchell, a sophomore from St. Martinville, scored a career high 13 points, tied his career high with seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 22 minutes.  Mitchell also made life miserable for North Texas' inside players.  George Odufuwa, who averages a double-double on the season, was held to eight points and four rebounds before fouling out.  His replacement, Alonzo Edwards, fouled out in just four minutes of action.

Daigle, a senior from Lafayette,  became the 39th player in Cajuns history to reach the 1,000 point milestone when he hit a jumper with 6:02 to play in the first half, giving the Cajuns a 27-19 lead.  He finished the game with 13 points, 12 of them in the first half.

Travis Bureau also had one of his best games of the season.  The senior from Sorrento had a double-double, leading the Cajuns with 15 points and ten rebounds.

La'Ryan Gary chipped in 14 points, freshman Bryant Mbamalu added 12 and Josh Brown 11 to round out the double digit scorers for the Cajuns, who outrebounded North Texas 40-35, despite not having Scottie Farrington (flu) and Courtney Wallace (academic questions) for the game.

North Texas placed five in double figures, led by Josh White's 21 points.  The Baton Rouge senior hit 6-12 field goals and 7-8 free throws in the game.  Tristan Thompson, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week, added 20 points on 6-10 shooting.

In a game that saw 56 fouls called and 73 free throws shot, the Cajuns outscored North Texas 26-23 from the free throw line.  The Cajuns made 66.7% of their free throws.  North Texas, who came into the game averaging 75% from the line as a team, shot just 67.6%, making 23-34.  Jacob Holmen had a double-double for North Texas with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Kedrick Hogans (12) and Dominique Johnson (10) also had double digits for the Mean Green (16-5, 5-3 Sun Belt.)

The Mean Green trailed by only three points, 43-40 at the 17:41 mark of the second half, but the Cajuns went on an 8-0 run, which featured a three pointer by Andrews and three free throws by Mbamalu.  The Cajuns biggest lead was 14 points, 68-54 at the 10:08 mark.  North Texas was only able to get the score back to one possession one time, after two Johnson free throws with :34 remaining.  But Daigle hit a free throw, and Brown hit another after a steal to build the lead to five at 91-86.  Thompson then missed a long three pointer and the Cajuns got a dunk by Brown with :03 left to ice it.

The Cajuns (6-14, 3-5 SBC) had more assists (16) than turnovers (12) and shot 50% from the floor for the game.

Louisiana will take its three game winning streak to Mobile, Alabama this Sunday to take on South Alabama, a winner over Troy Thursday night.  Gametime is set for 4:07pm.  ESPN 1420, Hot 107.9 and the Ragin' Cajun Radio Network will have the broadcast at 3:37pm.