Louisiana Tops James Madison for Third Straight Win

It will be a Happy Thanksgiving for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns basketball team.

Frank Bartley IV scored 28 points and senior Jay Wright scored a career high 27 as the Cajuns won their third straight game, beating James Madison 82-70 in Harrisonburg, VA Wednesday afternoon.

Wright and Bartley combined to hit 20-29 from the field as the Cajuns (3-2) shot 57 percent from the field in the victory.  Bartley added six rebounds, while Wright added six assists in the contest.

The game wasn't that close as Louisiana led by 20 points in the final 62 seconds before an eight point flurry cut the final margin to a dozen.

The Cajuns got it done on the defensive end, scoring 27 points off turnovers.  ]

"We thought our pressure defense could give them some trouble," head coach Bob Marlin said.  "Then on the offensive end, Frank got us off to a great start and then Jay kicked it in and we were able to really get it going."

The Cajuns played without forward Jonathan Stove (foot) and freshman Kadavion Evans (back).  Two freshmen, Roydell Brown and Justin Miller, were in the Cajuns' starting lineup.

"Justin came up huge in the second half for us," Marlin said.  He was able to make his presence known on the boards and that was big in a game against a bigger team.:  Miller had six of his second rebounds in the second half  Bryce Washington was held to just four points, but the Sun Belt rebound leader had twelve boards for the Cajuns.

James Madison (0-5) had four players in double figures, with Jackson Kent leading the way with 16 points.  Yohanny Delembert added 15, while Tom Vodanovich and Joey McLean scored 13 apiece.  McLean also had seven assists.

"We got McLean in some foul trouble early and that helped us," Marlin said.  He had to sit a bit and that's when our pressure defense really took over."

Louisiana will now take on Texas Southern in the final game at Blackham Coliseum this Sunday afternoon at 4pm.  The late Coach Beryl Shipley will be honored for his Hall of Fame Induction prior to the contest.