![Cajuns Win Over North Texas, 80-76](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2012/12/elfridpaytoncajuns.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Cajuns Win Over North Texas, 80-76
UL sophomore guard Elfrid Payton (2)
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun men's basketball team recorded a big Sun Belt Conference road victory on Saturday night, defeating the North Texas Mean Green, 80-76, in Denton, Texas.
Louisiana trailed at the half, 30-28, but outscored North Texas, 41-37, in the second half, thanks to some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, to notch the four-point win.
The Cajuns, playing with only nine healthy players, due to injury and sickness, shot 49% (26-of-53) from the field, and 50% (9-of-18) from beyond the three-point arc, while forcing 19 Mean Green turnovers.
Freshman center Shawn Long led Louisiana, offensively, scoring a career-high 27 points, with junior Bryant Mbamalu adding 19 points, thanks to five three-pointers, while sophomore Elfrid Payton chipped in with 14 points, and also matched a career-high, with nine assists.
Sophomore guard Chris Jones paced North Texas in a losing cause, with 23 points.
With the win, the Cajuns improved to 3-5 overall, and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, while North Texas fell to 3-5 overall, and 0-1 in league play.
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