Newcomers Spark Cajuns Past Louisiana College 85-57

Opening night belonged to some new faces at the Cajundome.

Four newcomers combined for fifty points and 22 rebounds as Louisiana rebounded from a sloppy first half and ran away from Louisiana College in the season opener, 85-57, before 2.979.

Junior college transfer Devonta Walker led the way with 20 points, while senior transfer Brian Williams and freshman Johnathan Stove added eleven points each.  Another freshman, Bryce Washington, chipped in eight points.

"It's all about practice," head coach Bob Marlin said.  "Shawn (Long) and J. J. (Davenport) have missed some time, and they didn't play well tonight.  Johnathan had his best practice of the year this week and he gave us some energy off the bench tonight.  Devonta rant he floor really well and finished at the basket.  And, the guys who got the minutes tonight were the guys who defended well."

The Cajuns committed fourteen turnovers in the first half, but cut that number in half after intermission.  Louisiana also dominated the boards in the second half, outrebounding the Wildcats 30-10 after the break.

Louisiana College (0-1) put four in double figures, led by Anthony Gaines, Jr. with fifteen points.  Kevin Cottonham scored 14, Lafayette native Kevin Lewis chipped in 12 and Raheen Regis tallied ten points.

The Cajuns led 35-28 at the break and saw their lead trimmed to one point, 37-36 with 17:33 remaining.  The Cajuns stretched the lead to nine points, 51-42 with 13:24 to play as Walker and Stove combined for eleven points in the four minute span.  A Lewis triple sliced the lead to six points, but Louisiana went on a 9-0 run to stretch the lead to fifteen points, 60-45 with 9:47 left.

Louisiana College never got closer than twelve points the rest of the way.

The Cajuns will head to Tulsa to face the Golden Hurricane Monday night at the Reynolds Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00pm.