Prior to Saturday night's game against Louisiana Tech, Louisiana coach Bob Marlin said the toughest team would win.

Mission accomplished.

Louisiana took the fight to the visiting Bulldogs and won their eighth straight game in a 91-83 win before 4,491 raucous fans at the Cajundome Saturday night.

The Cajuns (8-2) jumped out to a 26-6 lead and withstood a three point barrage by Jabobi Boykins in the final ten minutes to garner the win against their oldest rivals.

Louisiana garnered five players in double figures, with Bryce Washington leading the way with 19 points.  Frank Bartley added 18, while freshman Justin Miller and senior Jay Wright added 14 points each.  Freshman P. J.Hardy hit three clutch three pointers in the second half to wind up with eleven points.

Eric McCree lead the Bulldogs (5-4) with 23 points, while Boykins hit all seven of this triples in the second half to finish with 21 points.  Freshman guard DeQuan Bracey had 13 points and eight assists for the visitors.

Louisiana forced 21 turnovers and had a 31-17 lead in points off turnovers in the win.  The Cajuns used their quickness to open the big lead and took a 43-31 lead at the half.

Boykins' sharpshooting helped Louisiana Tech cut the Cajuns' lead to 64-58 with 8:43 to play, but the Cajuns quickly got the lead back up to 16 thanks to a Wright layup and a pair of triples by Hardy.  The lead swelled to as many as 19 with 4;46 to play.  Boykins continued to rain three pointers however and cut the lead to six points with 1:19 left.

A pair of Hardy free throws with :40 left gave the Cajuns a six point lead, 86-80 but Boykins hit his seventh from the bonusphere cut the lead to three.  After a free throw by Jonathan Stove, the Cajuns got their 14th steal of the night and Bartley sealed the win with a layup.

Louisiana will now hit the road in search of their ninth straight win as they take on Georgia Wednesday night in Athens.  Tipoff is at 5:00 pm and will be televised on the SEC Network.

 

 

More From 103.3 The GOAT