LAFAYETTE – JaKeenan Gant and Jerekius Davis each scored a career-high 27 points and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns scored its most points since the 1990-91 season with a 122-90 victory over Prairie View on Tuesday at the Cajundome.
Marcus Stroman posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists as Louisiana (7-3) won its fifth straight game and scored its most points since a 127-88 win over Tennessee State on December 20, 1990. Jeremy Hayes added 10 points for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who finished 43-for-66 (65.2 percent) from the floor and improved to 137-3 all-time when scoring 100 or more points.
Davis drained his first 10 shots from the floor for Louisiana, including seven 3-pointers, before missing his final attempt of the game late in the second half. The junior scored 19 points in the first half for the Ragin’ Cajuns on seven attempts, including a 5-for-5 performance from behind the 3-point line.
Gant finished 9-for-12 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free throw line as Louisiana finished 22-for-25 from the charity stripe.
The Ragin’ Cajuns led 12-9 early in the first half before scoring the next 12 points to push the lead to double digits. Cedric Russell opened the run for the Ragin’ Cajuns with a 3-pointer before Gant scored six straight points and Hayes added a three-point play.
Prairie View (1-9), which has played all 10 of its games on the road, closed the gap to 34-21 on a three-point play by Gary Blackston with 9:39 remaining in the first half before the Ragin’ Cajuns used a 13-0 run to pull away.
Malik Marquetti’s bucket opened the run for Louisiana before Davis scored the next 11 points with three 3-pointers and a dunk off a steal from Trajan Wesley.
Louisiana built a 65-40 lead at halftime and took its biggest lead of the night – 100-58 – on Davis’ sixth 3-pointer of the night with 9:30 remaining in the game.
All 13 players saw action for Louisiana with 12 entering the scoring column. Russell pulled down a career-high six rebounds to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns while Davis, Gant and Justin Miller each hauled in five boards.
Taishaun Johnson lead Prairie View with a season-high 28 points while Blackston notched a double-double with 26 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Panthers finished 29-for-68 (42.6 percent) from the floor and 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) from the free throw line.
Louisiana will return to action on Saturday (Dec. 15) when it faces in-state rival Louisiana Tech (8-3) in a 7 p.m., contest at the Cajundome. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard in the Lafayette area on KHXT-FM (107.9).
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
• Season tickets, beginning at $100, are available online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2357.
• All current UL faculty and staff, along with recent graduates (within the last five years), can purchase season tickets at a 50-percent discount to cheer on the Ragin’ Cajuns during the 2018-19 season at the Cajundome.
• The special package will allow recent graduates of Louisiana to purchase tickets in sections 101-103. Discounts will be applied upon confirmation of graduate status by the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office.
GET YOUR PASSPORT
• The game against Southern is part of the “Louisiana Passport,” which will recognize Ragin’ Cajuns fans who attend all eight of Louisiana’s scheduled games against in-state opponents during the 2018-19 season.
• Each game, beginning with the Ragin’ Cajuns Nov. 28 game at New Orleans, fans will get their passport stamped at a location to be determined. In-state games for the Ragin’ Cajuns include home games against Southern (Dec. 1), Loyola (Dec. 5), Louisiana Tech (Dec. 15) and ULM (Feb. 16), with additional road games slated against McNeese State (Dec. 18), Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 29) and ULM (Jan. 19).
• At Louisiana’s game against ULM at the Cajundome on Feb. 16, those who have a completed passport with eight stamps will be recognized on the court at some point during the game.
• For more information on tickets, contact the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2357. For information concerning parking, contact the RCAF at (337) 851-2903.
FOLLOW THE CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsMBB), Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsMBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Men’s Basketball.