Cajuns Bounce Nicholls State 84-57

LAFAYETTE -- Louisiana built an early lead and never trailed as the Ragin’ Cajuns defeated Nicholls State 84-57 in game six of the inaugural Beryl Shipley Classic at the Cajundome Sunday.

Nicholls State (1-4) managed to tie the game up on a couple of occasions early, but the Cajuns broke away to take a 36-31 lead at the half.

The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the second half with three straight buckets and cruised to a double digit lead as J.J. Thomas and Darshawn McClellan popped back-to-back treys six minutes into the period.

Thomas led Louisiana (3-3) with 15 points, while Darnell Jackson, Kadeem Coleby and McClellan finished with 12, 11 and 10 points. Thomas also led the team in rebounds, hauling down seven of the Cajuns 38 total in the afternoon contest.

Game high scorer and rebounder was Chris Talkington, who led Nicholls with 17 points and 9 caroms.

“We did a good job in the first half defensively,” explained Louisiana coach Bob Marlin, before once again lamenting poor ball handling, “but we came out in the second half, played well defensively, gave them one shot for the most part, did a little bit better job from three, guarding it from three and we hit some shots also."

“A good game all around and hopefully it will give some of our guys some confidence,” Marlin offered."

The Cajuns didn’t lack confidence as they were pulling away from Nicholls, displaying the kind of moxie that will hold them in good stead with the conference schedule looming.

The Cajuns shot 52 percent from the floor for the game, knocking down 32 of 61 within the arc while hitting 9-of-16 from beyond it. The Cajuns improved at the line, depositing 11 of 18 free throws for 61 percent.

The Cajuns return to action Saturday in Pittsburgh against Duquesne.