Cajuns Win Share of West Division Title

Freshman Chris Gradnigo's game-high 24 points led Louisiana to a 58-51 victory Saturday over Denver and a share of the Sun Belt West Title.

Gradnigo hit 9-of-13 shots and was 4-for-6 from 3-point range for the Ragin' Cajuns (15-14, 11-7 Sun Belt).

A 12-6 run at the end of the first half gave Denver (11-18, 7-11) a 28-27 edge at halftime.

Rob Lewis, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds for the Pioneers, made two jumpers to make it 32-27, but an 11-2 run put the Cajuns ahead 38-32 with 14:41 left.

Denver and Louisiana exchanged baskets for the next nine minutes, but a jump shot by Nate Rohnert at 2:25 was the Pioneers' last basket.

Joe Jackson added 10 points to Lewis' 16.

Randell Daigle had 11 points for ULL. Gradnigo and Tyren Johnson had six rebounds each. own a team-high six boards.

With the victory, Louisiana will host one of five Sun Belt Conference Championship first round games on Wednesday, March 5. The Cajuns, which enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed, will host No. 12 Troy for an 8:05 p.m. tip at the CAJUNDOME.

DENVER 51
Lewis, Rob 6-16 3-3 16; Jackson, Joe 3-4 3-3 10; Tanner, Adam 4-6 0-0 9;McNally, Xander 3-4 0-0 7; Rohnert, Nate 2-5 0-0 4; Peter-Denman, Nigel 1-1 0-0 3; Lewis, Kyle 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 20-39 6-6 51.

LOUISIANA 58
Gradnigo, Chris 9-13 2-2 24; Daigle, Randell 4-9 2-2 11; Millsap, Elijah 2-4 3-6 7; Gary, La'Ryan 1-5 2-2 4; Wallace, Courtney 1-2 2-2 4; Dees, David 1-2 0-0 3; Milson, Abray 1-2 0-0 2; Johnson, Tyren 1-1 0-2 2; Bureau, Travis 0-3 1-2 1; Barksdale, Maurice 0-0 0-0 0; Dison, Brandon 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-43 12-18 58.