Cajuns Fall To Creighton, 63-58

Courtesy---ragincajuns.com

A career night from Randell Daigle was not enough as Creighton defeated Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team, 63-58, at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. on Wednesday night.

Daigle set career-highs in points (25), rebounds (9) and three pointers made (7) as the Cajuns fell to 1-2 on the year. Creighton improved to 3-0 with the victory.

As a team, the Cajuns had a tough night shooting. UL only connected on 33.8 percent of their shots (23-68) from the floor and a woeful 3-for-9 from the free throw line.

Defensively, UL played strong, holding the Bluejays to 36.2 percent (21-58).

The contest got off to a sluggish start with both squads combining for 3-of-16 on field goals, including a 1-for-8 slump for the Cajuns. At the 15:32 mark, UL found itself trailing 6-2.

Three straight three-pointers by Daigle broke UL out of a 2-for-13 funk but Creighton improved its shooting as well to maintain a 19-13 lead with 9:04 remaining.

Louisiana then came alive on a 4-of-7 shooting effort to cut it to a one-point game. A lay-up by David Perez gave UL its first lead of the game, 24-23, with 5:00 remaining. The basket capped an 11-4 run for the Cajuns.

Both teams traded baskets over the next three possessions before Creighton closed out the half on an 11-4 run to take a 34-28 lead into the half.

Daigle's fifth trey of the night snapped a nearly four-minute scoreless streak that began at the start of the second half. But the Cajuns struggled to find the basket on a consistent basis. Creighton took advantage and built a 47-36 lead with 11:30 remaining.

Two more three-pointers from Daigle made the contest a two-possession game with 5:27 left.

An apparent basket by La'Ryan Gary would have made the contest 54-58 with 1:30 showing but it was called off due to goal-tending.

But after a defensive stop, Perez hit another big lay-up, to make it 54-58, officially.

Two free throws by Josh Brown kept the Cajuns in the game with a minute remaining. But Creighton would hit free throws down the stretch to seal the win, despite not making a field goal for the final 4:03 of the contest.

Daigle finished the night 9-of-17 and 7-of-13 from beyond-the-arc.

Joining Daigle in double-digits was Brown who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Jays barely edged UL on the boards (46-45), assists (12-11) and on turnovers (9-10).

The Cajuns will have just one day off before heading back to the Cajundome on Friday to take on Cleveland State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.