MONROE, La. (Interstat) — De’Vion Lavergne scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds Saturday to guide Louisiana-Lafayette to a 76-62 men’s basketball victory over Louisiana-Monroe at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 2-11 overall, while the Warhawks fell to 3-10 in the Sun Belt Conference matchup. Jaxon Olvera led all scorers with 17 points for Louisiana-Lafayette. Dorian Finister added 15 points and seven assists. Louisiana-Monroe was led by Krystian Lewis with 16 points and Lavell Brodnex, who had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Warhawks struggled offensively, unable to close the gap in the second half. Louisiana-Lafayette next hosts Norfolk State on Dec. 28. Louisiana-Monroe travels to face Kansas State the same day.

MONROE, La. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game between two teams desperate for a positive turning point, it was Louisiana-Lafayette that found its rhythm, snapping a five-game losing streak with a decisive 76-62 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Ragin’ Cajuns, improving to 2-11 overall, executed with an efficiency that had eluded them for much of the young season. They built a double-digit lead in the first half and weathered every minor push from the Warhawks, who fell to 3-10. The most critical phase of the game unfolded early, setting a tone the Warhawks could never overcome. Louisiana-Lafayette opened the contest on a blistering 11-2 run, fueled by precise ball movement and stifling defense. Dorian Finister, a 6-foot-5 guard from New Orleans, scored or assisted on the game’s first three baskets, including a driving floater on the opening possession and a slick pass to De’Vion Lavergne for a 3-pointer. Louisiana-Monroe, conversely, opened the game missing its first five field goal attempts and committing two turnovers. The Warhawks’ first points came not from the field, but from free throws by Lavell Brodnex after a flagrant foul. This early struggle from the floor became a persistent theme; ULM finished the game shooting just 35.7 percent, making only 15 of 42 attempts. Their offense often stalled into isolation plays, resulting in a season-low three assists for the game. The Ragin’ Cajuns, meanwhile, showcased their offensive potential. They shot 51.9 percent from the field and an impressive 47.6 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 21 3-pointers. Their offensive rating of 117.7 points per 100 possessions dwarfed the Warhawks’ mark of 93.0, highlighting the gap in execution. Louisiana-Monroe stayed within striking distance primarily through a pronounced advantage at the free-throw line, attempting 33 free throws to Louisiana-Lafayette’s 18. The Warhawks made 26 of them, keeping the margin from ballooning further. A 3-pointer by Renars Sondors of Riga, Latvia, and another by Dylan Diaz brought ULM within 23-16 midway through the first half, but the Cajuns responded immediately. Jaxon Olvera, a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston, answered with a personal 5-0 run, culminating in a traditional three-point play. Louisiana-Lafayette maintained control and took a 38-25 lead into halftime after a late 3-pointer from Finister. Any hope of a Warhawk comeback was systematically extinguished in the second half’s opening minutes. Joshua Lewis of Tampa, Florida, buried a 3-pointer on the first possession, and after a Finister steal led to free throws, the lead stretched to 18 points. Louisiana-Monroe never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way, as the Cajuns’ offense continued to find answers, particularly from their top performers. De’Vion Lavergne, a 6-foot-3 guard from Melville, Louisiana, was the game’s standout player, leading all scorers with 16 points and adding eight rebounds. His performance marked a significant bounce-back after scoring just 14 points combined in his previous two games. He was complemented effectively by Olvera, who finished with 17 points, and Finister, who orchestrated the offense with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. For Louisiana-Monroe, Krystian Lewis, a local product from Monroe, led the way with 16 points. Brodnex, from Saginaw, Michigan, battled for 11 points and nine rebounds, while Sondors added 13 points. However, their efforts were undermined by 13 team turnovers and the inability to generate consistent offensive flow. The victory provides a crucial confidence boost for Louisiana-Lafayette as it heads into a home game against Norfolk State on Dec. 28. Louisiana-Monroe faces a daunting non-conference road test at Kansas State on the same date. The two Sun Belt rivals will meet again in Lafayette on Jan. 8.

Struggling Sun Belt Rivals Meet as Louisiana-Monroe Hosts Louisiana-Lafayette MONROE, La. (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams seeking to reverse difficult starts to the season will meet Saturday when the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks host the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Both programs enter the contest with losing records. The visiting Ragin’ Cajuns (1-10) have lost ten consecutive games since a season-opening win. Their most recent outing was a 65-44 loss at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 13. The Warhawks (3-9) have dropped three of their last four, but are coming off a hard-fought 96-92 double-overtime home loss to South Alabama on Wednesday. The matchup features two of the league’s standout guards. Louisiana-Lafayette will rely on Dorian Finister, who is averaging 12.3 points over his last six games. He scored 14 points in 26 minutes against Louisiana Tech. For Louisiana-Monroe, Krystian Lewis is a focal point after a career-high 29-point performance in the double-overtime contest. Lewis has scored 16 or more points in five of his last six games, averaging 20.2 points per game over that stretch. Louisiana-Lafayette’s struggles have been marked by offensive challenges, failing to reach 65 points in any game during its losing streak. The Ragin’ Cajuns will need more production beyond Finister, with players like Jaxon Olvera and De’Vion Lavergne providing secondary support. Louisiana-Monroe has shown a higher offensive ceiling, scoring 92 points in its last game and 79 in a loss at Miami (Fla.), but consistency and defense remain issues. The Warhawks allowed an average of 95.3 points in their last three losses. This game opens Sun Belt play for both teams. The in-state rivals will meet again in Lafayette on Jan. 8. For now, each sees Saturday as a critical opportunity to build momentum and secure an early conference victory. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.