Cajuns fall to Islanders, extend losing streak to two
Quannas White takes responsibility for Louisiana's 67-60 defeat, citing a lack of toughness and poor shooting efficiency against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
By John Ferrari ·
Louisiana fans watching the Ragin' Cajuns face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday night in the Cajundome saw their team drop to 0-2 for the season. The Islanders defeated the Cajuns 67-60, marking the second consecutive loss for the Louisiana program.
Head coach Quannas White accepted full responsibility for the performance, describing the team's effort as a source of deep frustration. White stated that he felt bad for the supporters who came to watch the game, noting that the level of play did not reflect his standards. He pledged to correct the issues with his staff.
The Cajuns struggled significantly with their shooting percentage throughout the contest. They finished the game at 31.3% from the field, a figure that dropped to 25.9% in the second half. A stretch of almost 11 minutes in the middle of the second half saw the team go without a single field goal, leaving them trailing on the scoreboard.
De'Vion Lavergne broke the scoring drought with three consecutive three-pointers in the final 59 seconds. These baskets helped narrow the gap, but they were not enough to secure a win. Lavergne finished with nine points, three rebounds, an assist, and two steals in 34 minutes of play.
Defensive intensity remained a persistent issue for the Louisiana squad. The team committed seven turnovers by the end of the first half, including two within a few minutes of each other. Although the number of turnovers decreased in the second half, the team still finished with 11, while forcing 17 from the visitors.
The Islanders dominated the boards, outrebounding the Cajuns 40-22. No Louisiana player recorded more than four rebounds in the game. White pointed to the loose balls and the inability to control the glass as major factors in the defeat. He noted that the opposing team outscored the Cajuns 31-11 on the bench and 26-16 in the paint.
Scoring was concentrated among a few players for the second game in a row. Jamyron Keller led the team with 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while Mekhi Cooper added 17 points, shooting 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. No other Cajun scored more than six points until the final minute of the game.
Trent Middleton played only five minutes before leaving the game with a concussion. He had scored 14 points in the opening loss to Akron. The Cajuns led 6-5 with 17 minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first half but never regained the lead after the Islanders built a 30-16 cushion.
The Islanders shot 46.5% as a team, with Bineal Basil leading them with 14 points and six rebounds. Daniel Michelini-Jackson contributed 12 points and four rebounds, while Desmond Kent added 10 points and four boards.
White expressed confidence that the team would improve as the season progressed. He described the current adversity as a necessary part of the development process, stating that he is glad the team is facing these challenges now. He emphasized that the players must make changes beyond just being upset about the losses.
