Preview: Texas Southern vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team returns from the Thanksgiving break on Sunday when it plays host to Texas Southern at Blackham Coliseum.

Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Live video streaming will be available on RaginCajuns.com with the game being broadcast in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9 FM and ESPN 1420-AM, with fans also able to hear the game worldwide on the Radio Pup app.

The game against Texas Southern (4-1) marks the final regular-season contest for Louisiana in its former home before moving back to the newly refurbished Cajundome on Thursday against Nicholls. Louisiana, which has worn retro uniforms during its games at Blackham Coliseum, will be auctioning off the uniforms after the game. The Ragin' Cajuns will honor several of its former players and coaches before the game, including the late Beryl Shipley, who was recently inducted into the UL Athletics Hall of Fame.

Louisiana (3-2) earned its first non-conference road victory since defeating Louisiana Tech in 2013 as it cruised to an 82-70 win at James Madison on Wednesday. Frank Bartley and Jay Wright combined for 55 points as the Ragin' Cajuns shot 57 percent from the floor and pulled away from a 39-31 lead at halftime.

Bartley, who is second in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring, leads Louisiana with a 19.2 average with Bryce Washington ranked 10th in the league in scoring (14.4) while leading the SBC in rebounds (11.4). Jay Wright averages 13.0 points per game for the Ragin' Cajuns with freshman Justin Miller averaging 10.8.

TSU (4-1), off to its best start under head coach Mike Davis, defeated James Madison, 67-56, last Monday behind a balanced scoring attack of three players in double figures. Dulani Robinson led all scorers with 17 points and seven assists against the Dukes with Zach Lofton contributing 16 points and Derrick Griffin racked up recording a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

GAME 6: Louisiana (3-2) vs. Texas Southern (4-1)
November 27, 2016 | 4 p.m. CST | Lafayette, La. | Blackham Coliseum (5,000)
TV: None
Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM | Talent: Jay Walker (PBP)
Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB; @ULRaginCajuns
Series: Texas Southern leads, 1-0
In Lafayette: 0-0 | In Houston: Texas Southern leads, 1-0

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 458-260 (24th season), Record at UL: 110-94 (7th season)

TEXAS SOUTHERN
Head Coach: Mike Davis (Thomas Edison St., 2000)
Career Record: 317-210 (17th season), Record at TSU: 80-58 (5th season)

STORY LINES
• Louisiana plays its final regular-season game today at Blackham Coliseum – its former home from 1950-84 before moving to the Cajundome.

• The game will pit two of the nation's top offensive rebounders in Louisiana's Bryce Washington (8th, 4.8) and Texas Southern's Derrick Griffin (4th, 4.8).

• Louisiana looks to extend its win streak to four games after opening the season with losses at Minnesota and Montana State.

• A win would mark the first time in school history the Ragin' Cajuns would have won four straight games during the month of November.

• A win would give Louisiana a 4-2 record in the month of November, one win shy of the 2013-14 squad that started 5-2 in the opening month and would reach the NCAA Championships.

QUICK HITS
• Louisiana is ranked nationally in the top-20 in turnovers forced (10th, 19.2), steals per game (15th, 9.8), offensive rebounds per game (16th, 15.0), is 22nd in turnover margin (+5.2) and is 24th in scoring offense (87.8).

• Bryce Washington is ranked eighth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.8), 11th in rebounds per game (11.4), 13th in double-doubles (3) and 20th in total rebounds (57).

• Jay Wright (16th, 2.6) and Frank Bartley (32nd, 2.4) are ranked in the top 50 nationally in steals per game.

THE SERIES
• The meeting between Louisiana and Texas Southern is the second between the schools with TSU claiming a 74-71 overtime victory over the Ragin' Cajuns on Nov. 16, 2012 in Houston.FAYTET

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS