Tulsa Stops Turnover-Plagued Cajuns, 64-53

For the second game in a row, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns suffered more than 20 turnovers in a game.

This time, they couldn't overcome them.

The turnovers led to scoring droughts in each half and led Tulsa to a 64-53 game in the Golden Hurricane home opener before 3,889 fans in the Reynolds Center Monday night.

Rashad Ray and Marquel Curtis each scored sixteen points for Tulsa (1-1).  D'Andre Wright added 14.

Shawn Long was the only Cajun in double figures with 15 points.

The Cajuns jumped out to an early 15-10 lead with 10:48 to go in the first half.  But Tulsa went on a 10-2 run and, after a Ray jumper, led 20-17.  Brian Williams got a traditional three point play to the the game with 8:01 left, but the Cajuns would go ice cold from the field after that.  Seven missed shots and four turnovers later, the Cajuns found themselves trailing 29-20 before Shawn Long hit a free throw with :52 left to break the scoring drought. Ray's three pointer with :28 left made the score 32-21 at the half.

The Cajuns (1-1) used their defense to get back in the game early in the second half as Louisiana went on a 14-2 run to take a 25-24 lead with 12:37 to go, turning the Hurricane over five times during that stretch.

A foul on the Cajuns' J. J. Davenport and  a double technical foul gave Tulsa four free throws to the Cajuns one and put the Hurricane back on top 38-36.  The Cajuns would tie the game only once more on a Long layup to make the score 40-40 with 10:15 to go.

Wright's layup with 9:58 left gave Tulsa the lead for good   Louisiana got within one point on two occasions, the last on a Long jumper with 8:06 to go.  Tulsa then went on a 10-1 run and led 56-46 with 3:09 left to play.  The Cajuns went  from the 8:06 mark without a field goal until a Hayward Register triple with 1:20 remaining.

The Cajuns shot 40.8% from the field (20-49) to Tulsa's 41.5% (22-53).  The free throw line made up the difference as Tulsa hit 17-23 to 8-13 for Louisiana.

The Cajuns will now travel to Auburn for a game Friday night.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm.