Cajuns On Road To Take On South Alabama

UL junior guard Elfrid Payton

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Thursday night, when coach Bob Marlin's squad travels to Mobile, Alabama to take on the South Alabama Jaguars in the opening game of a two-game Sun Belt Conference road swing.

Louisiana, who has won five of their last seven games, defeated Texas St., 81-58, on Monday night, to improve to 11-5, overall, and 2-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.

South Alabama, meanwhile, is going the opposite direction, after losing their sixth-consecutive game last Saturday, falling to Arkansas St., 72-60, a loss which dropped them to 6-11, overall, and 0-4 in league play.

The Cajuns are led by sophomore forward Shawn Long, who is averaging 21.3 points, to go along with 10.9 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks-per-game, and junior guard Elfrid Payton, who is averaging 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals a contest.

The Jaguars are paced by senior forward Augustime Rubit, who is averaging 16.3 points, and 9.8 rebounds a game.

This will be the 48th meeting between the Cajuns and the Jaguars with Louisiana holding a slight 24-23 series lead, including an 11-10 mark in games played in Mobile.

Tip-off time at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

You can hear all the play-by-play action on Sports Radio ESPN 1420, and on-line at  espn1420.com, as well as Hot 107.9, and 1079ishot.com, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:35 pm.