-
La.-Lafayette upsets No. 12 Mississippi St. without Austin
Nov. 23, 2002
SportsLine.com wire reports
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Brad Boyd scored 33 points and hit a 3-pointer with 1:12 left to put Louisiana-Lafayette up for good as the Ragin' Cajuns beat No. 12 Mississippi State 79-76 on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs played their season opener without star center Mario Austin, who is being held out pending an NCAA ruling on his eligibility.
After taking a second look at Austin's high school academic records, the NCAA determined last week that it erroneously declared Austin eligible as a freshman. Attorneys for Austin and the school are contesting the decision, and the NCAA has yet to rule on Austin's status for this season.
The crowd chanted Austin's name several times. One fan had a sign that read "Free Mario."
Timmy Bowers led the Bulldogs with 22 points, and Derrick Zimmerman had 18.
But with Austin on the bench in jeans and a longsleeve T-shirt, Louisiana-Lafayette looked every bit the equal of the defending Southeastern Conference tournament champions.
Anthony Johnson added 26 points for Louisiana-Lafayette (1-0), including four free throws in the closing minutes to help clinch it.
Louisiana-Lafayette went up 60-56 with 8:32 left on Johnson's baseline leaner.
The Bulldogs ripped off nine straight points to take a 65-60 lead with 6:30 left.
But Boyd and Johnson shot the Ragin' Cajuns back into the lead. Boyd nailed a 3 with 3:22 left to make the score 71-69.
Zimmerman tied it at 71 with two free throws moments later, but Boyd came off a screen and swished his ninth 3-pointer to make it 74-71. He finished 9-for-18 from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs had little interior offense without Austin.
Starting center Marcus Campbell had just two points. The Bulldogs often played 6-foot-8 forward Branden Vincent at center. Vincent had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Boyd scored 18 in the first half as the Ragin Cajuns jumped out to a 10-point lead. Mississippi State rallied to take a 34-33 halftime lead.
Louisiana-Lafayette's Kenneth Lawrence was taken from the court on a stretcher with his neck immobilized in the first half after slamming into a player setting a screen. He was taken to a hospital, but returned to the bench in the second half with what was diagnosed as a neck stinger.
-
Puppy
Funny that the article failed to mention that ULL was missing it's best player also...Southall. I think he is or at least will be as good or better than Austin. So to me that was 'even steven.'
Shows that 2-10 ULL is better and on MSU's home floor.
You guys should beat them whether he plays or not.
-
The Cajuns played a very good game against Mississippi State. Not only was Michael Southall not available for the game, but Laurie Bridges, Chris Williams and Robert Jupiter also did not make the trip! The Cajuns have a chance for a big year if "some" of the kids will get their heads screwed on straight!
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
Forum Rules