By David Rogers. LAFAYETTE, La. — A red hot Louisiana men’s basketball team showed few signs of their early 2024 season struggles on Dec. 18, jumping out to as much as an 18-point first half lead over a cold-shooting Appalachian State squad. Despite an 8-minute scoring drought midway through the second half, the Ragin’ Cajuns survived the Mountaineers’ late rally to hold on to a 68-62 win in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
In most years, outside observers would expect more from the Mountaineers in defending their regular season Sun Belt championship from a year ago — but this is 2024-25 with the transfer portal having a clear impact on all things college athletics. App State only returned two of its 12 primary rotation players from a year ago so has rebuilt almost the entire roster. Louisiana lost some players to graduation and added a couple through the portal, too, but at first glance there was a little more roster consistency coming into this season.
In App State’s first game at Lafayette’s Cajundome since March 3, 2019 (when the Mountaineers pulled off a 90-80 road win), the High Country hoopsters could hardly buy a bucket. Thanks to some late first half production in the paint, App State managed 30.4 percent in shooting from the field (7-of-23), but hit nothing in the opening stanza from behind the arc (0-for-7) and hit only 7-of-13 shots from the charity stripe (53.8 percent).
By intermission, the hot-shooting Ragin’ Cajuns held a dominant, 14-point lead, 35-21, thanks in large part to a solid defensive effort by the home team.
Where App State seemed to gain ground was after shifting to a 1-3-1 zone defense that appeared to disrupt Louisiana’s rhythm. That seemed to be the case late in the first half as well as in the second half.
Cajun starting guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, a junior from Morocco, missed his last five shots on the night but still tied App State’s Dior Conners for game-high scoring honors, with 15. Along with guard Kentre Garnett, the Moroccan native was good on critical free throws down the stretch to keep the Mountaineers at bay. Garnett was 4-for-4 on the night from behind the free thrown line, Moutaouakkil was 7-of-9. The latter was also second on the team in rebounding, with eight boards.
Louisiana was led in the rebounding department by Kyren Ratliff, with 10 rebounds to go with 10 points, the night’s only double-double on either team.
The Mountaineers did finish with three players in double figures, scoring. Conners recorded 15, while Myles Tate added 10 and C J Huntley contributed 11 points.
Noteworthy Team Stat Comparisons
- 3-point shooting: APP 22% (4-18); ULL 38% (13-17)
- Free throw shooting: APP 62% (18-29); ULL 76% (13-17)
- Bench points: APP 16, ULL 22
- Total rebounds: APP 31, ULL 36
Now 6-5 overall, 0-1 in Sun Belt play, App State travels to North Texas for a Dec. 20 non-conference tilt, then does not play again until Jan. 2, when the Mountaineers host Troy in their Sun Belt home opener and the first of a 4-game home stand. They host Texas State on Jan. 4, Coastal Carolina on Jan. 8, and James Madison on Jan. 11.
The win improves Louisiana’s record to 3-9 overall, 1-0 in Sun Belt. Next time out, the Ragin’ Cajuns host McNeese State (non-conference) on Dec. 22, then travel to Coastal Carolina for their next Sun Belt game on Jan. 2.
