Ragin’ Cajuns roll past Louisiana College in home opener, 113-58

LAFAYETTE – P.J. Hardy scored 13 of his career-high 19 points in the second half and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns placed six players in double figures in cruising to a 113-58 victory over Louisiana College on Tuesday at the Cajundome.

JaKeenan Gant scored 17 points with nine rebounds and four blocks as 11 players who dressed for Louisiana (1-1) entered the scoring column while the Ragin’ Cajuns reached the 100-point mark in their third straight home opener. Freshman Cedric Russell added 15 points for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Frank Bartley scoring 14, Justin Miller 12 and Bryce Washington 12.

Louisiana used a 21-2 run midway in the first half to stake a 32-8 lead that was capped by a 3-pointer by Hardy, who finished 7-for-11 from the field and 5-for-8 from behind the 3-point line. The Ragin’ Cajuns led 57-25 at halftime as Bartley scored 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting with Miller adding eight points and six boards.

Miller helped Louisiana push its lead to 75-34 with a pair of free throws with 13:12 remaining in the contest before a fastbreak dunk by Gant gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a, 89-38 lead with 8:12 left.

Louisiana finished 42-for-69 (60.9 percent) from the floor while going 13-for-26 (50 percent) from behind the 3-point line and 13-for-16 (84.2 percent) from the free throw line. The Ragin’ Cajuns held a 37-29 advantage on the boards with Gant pulling down a game-high nine to narrowly miss his first career double-double.

Hardy added a career-high five assists for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Marcus Stroman dishing out four with Malik Marquetti and Larenz Stalcup recording three.

Defensively, Louisiana limited the Wildcats to 17-for-45 (37.8 percent) aim from the floor, 1-for-10 from behind the 3-point line while forcing 30 turnovers.

Devon Washington led Division III Louisiana College, which was playing the game as an exhibition, with 15 points. Lashard Powell added nine points for the Wildcats with D’Aaron Davis pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.

Louisiana will return to action on Friday (Nov. 17) when it plays host to Savannah State in a 4 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.