Cajuns’ First Half Blitz Knocks Out Demons

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns led Northwestern State 27-25 with 7:54 to go in the first half.

Then the Cajuns just ran away and hid.

The Cajuns' outscored the Demons 23-5 over the next 4:53 to open a twenty point lead and Louisiana won its third straight game, beating the defending Southland Conference Tournament Champions 105-74 before 3,153 Wednesday night at the Cajundome.

Xavian Rimmer and Shawn Long combined for fifteen points during the surge, helping lead the Cajuns 55-36 halftime lead.

Long scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the first half and Rimmer tallied 13 of his 20 as the Cajuns built the big lead and never let the Demons (2-3) get closer than 14 points in the second half.  Long had his fourth double double of the season by halftime.  Long was plagued by foul trouble in the second half, playing only eight minutes after intermission.

And, on a night when Elfrid Payton was also in foul trouble, Kasey Shepherd scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half.  He added six rebounds and six assists.

Jalen West led the Demons with 16 points.  Brison White and DeQuan Hicks each added eleven points and Zeke Woodley scored ten.

Long totaled 15 rebounds to pace the Cajuns to a 50-31 bulge on the boards. Elridge Moore added nine rebounds to go with his eight points.

Northwestern cut the halftime lead to 62-48 with 16:02 to play, but the Cajuns then switched to a 2-3 zone and the move paid off as the Cajuns ballooned the lead to 93-58 with 5:25 to go.

The Cajuns made 10-21 from the three point line and have now hit 31 triples in the last three games.  Rimmer led the way, hitting five of seven from beyond the arc.

The game was plagued with 53 fouls as the teams combined to shoot 76 free throws.  The Cajuns hit only 14-27 in the first half before bouncing back 15-19 after intermission.

The Cajuns, now 5-2 on the year, will be back on the road next Wednesday when they renew their rivalry with Louisiana Tech in Ruston.  Gametime is scheduled for 6:30.

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