Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team dropped their Sun Belt Conference opener on Saturday, falling in double overtime to the ULM Warhawks, 103-98, in Monroe, Louisiana.

With ULM leading, 16-14, at the 11:01 mark of the first half, the Warhawks went on an 11-2 run over the next 6:30, extending their lead to 27-16 at the 5:31 mark of the half.

The Cajuns were able to go on a 12-7 run to end the half, cutting the ULM lead to 34-28 at halftime.

The Warhawks out-shot the Cajuns from the floor, 41%-28%, in the first half,

ULM was led in the initial half by Tylor Ongwae, who scored 11 points, while Elfrid Payton had 11 for Louisiana.

Shawn Long, who came into the match-up as the Cajuns' leading scorer, averaging 21.5 points-per-game, scored only two points in the half, and was 0-8 from the field.

Louisiana went on a 13-3 run to begin the second half, and held a 41-37 lead at the 15:51 mark.

ULM came right back with a run of their own, out-scoring UL, 25-11, over the next 9:26, and held a ten-point, 62-52 lead, at the 6:25 mark of the game.

Kevin Brown hit a three-point shot for the Cajuns, cutting the ULM lead to 69-67 at the 2:31 mark, and later, with only :13 remaining, Payton hit a jumper for UL, cutting the lead to 72-71.

Ongwae made two free throws at the :09 mark, extending the Wahawks lead to 74-71

With only :03 remaining, Xavian Rimmer was fouled on a three-point attempt, sending him to the free-throw line, with an opportunity to tie the game.

Rimmer made all three attempts, knotting the game, 74-74.

ULM got off a good shot at the buzzer, but Amos Olatayo missed a lay-up, which sent the game into overtime.

In the first overtime period, Stephen Wronkoski nailed a three-pointer at the :47 mark, giving the Cajuns an 84-83 lead, before Jayon James came right back for ULM, putting in a lay-up at the :33 mark, giving the Warhawks an 85-84 advantage.

With :15 remaining, Payton went to the line for Louisiana, and hit 1-of-2 free throws, to tie the game at 85-85.

Ongwae had a chance to win it for ULM, but missed a three-point attempt, which sent the game went into a second overtime.

In the second overtime period, Payton scored the first two points, hitting two free throws, to give UL an 87-85 lead, before ULM scored ten unanswered points to grab the lead, 95-87.

The Cajuns got to within three points twice, 96-93 at the :50 mark, and 98-95 at the :30 mark, but ULM hit made their last seven free throws, and went on to the 5-point win.

The Warhawks out-shot the Cajuns from the field, 47%-43%, and also finished with a 54-44 rebound advantage.

Ongwae led the way for ULM, with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Payton paced the way in a losing cause for Louisiana, providing a triple-double, with a game-high 34 points, along with 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

After a scoring only two first half points, Long, who fouled out in the first overtime period, finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

With the victory, ULM improved 4-5 overall, and 1-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Louisiana, who was playing their fifth-consecutive game without the services of Elridge Moore, fell to 9-5 overall, and 0-1 in league play.

The Cajuns return to action next Saturday, when they host UT-Arlington, in Sun Belt Conference action at the Cajundome.

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