WKU Throttles Cajuns, 72-49

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns fell victim to an ice cold shooting night at E. A. Diddle Arena and Western Kentucky took advantage as the Cajuns fell to the Hilltoppers 72-49 before 4,914 Thursday night in Bowling Green.

The Cajuns (7-13, 3-6 Sun Belt) led 19-16 with 6:57 left in the first half, but from there it all went south, as WKU (11-8. 5-3) closed the first half on a 16-2 run to take a 32-21 halftime lead.

Things didn't get any better early in the second half as the Hilltoppers got an early 10-2 run to take a 42-23 lead.  The margin got as large as 25, 55-30 with 8:25 to go and Louisiana got no closer than 17 the rest of the way.

Brandon Harris led a balanced attack for the Hilltoppers with 16 points.  Teeng Akol and Slidell native T. J. Price added 13 points each, while George Fant  chipped in ten.  Akol and Percy Blade each had ten rebounds for WKU, as the 'Toppers enjoyed a 49-31 advantage on the boards.

Elfrid Payton led the Cajuns with 14 points, while Shawn Long recorded his Sun Belt leading eleventh double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Cajuns shot a dismal 28.8 percent for the game, while Western, after shooting just 36 percent in the first half, made half their field goal attempts in the second half.  Western also outscored the Cajuns from the free throw line, 20-9.

Louisiana is back in action Saturday in Murfreesboro against league-leading Middle Tennessee at 5:30.