SALAB

Louisiana clinches Sun Belt's automatic NCAA Tournament bid

AP
Mar 06, 2023

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) Themus Fulks scored a career-high 23 points, Jordan Brown had 13 points and 16 rebounds and second-seeded Louisiana Ragin Cajuns beat No. 8 seed South Alabama Jaguars 71-66 on Monday night to claim the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship.

The fifth NCAA Tournament berth for Louisiana (26-7) will be its first since 2014.

Louisiana's first lead of two points or more came with 12:06 remaining in the second half on a put-back by Terence Lewis II for a 49-46 advantage.

After South Alabama went 1 of 2 from the line, Jalen Dalcourt made a jumper in the lane with 27.7 seconds left to extend Louisiana's lead to 67-64. The Jaguars struggled all game from the stripe, going 17 of 28.

Isaiah Moore made two free throws with 17.1 seconds left to get South Alabama within 67-66, but Lewis answered with two makes at the other end to regain a three-point advantage. South Alabama guard Owen White had a long 3-pointer rattle out in the closing seconds and Kentrell Garnett sealed it with two free throws at 1.4.

Dalcourt finished with 13 points and Lewis added 12 points for the Ragin' Cajuns. Dalcourt and Fulks each made three of Louisiana's eight 3-pointers.

South Alabama (19-16), which knocked off No. 1 seed Southern Miss 78-61 on Saturday, was going for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008.

Moore scored a career-high 33 points for South Alabama. Kevin Samuel had two blocks in the first half to set a South Alabama single-season record with 86. Samuel also scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Moore, averaging 18.5 points per game, scored 13 of South Alabama’s opening 20 points to help build a six-point lead. The Jaguars led 37-33 at halftime behind 63% shooting and Moore's 16 points.

MISSED CHANCES

South Alabama had a chance at a seven-point possession late in the second half, but ended up with just two to get within 58-56. Samuel made a shot in the lane while being fouled and a Flagrant 2 foul was called following a review. Samuel missed two free throws and Moore was off on a layup attempt.

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1st Half
USA
Jaguars
37
LA
Ragin Cajuns
33

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Judah Brown vs. Jordan Brown (Tyrell Jones gains possession)
19:42	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point layup	2-0
19:19		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
19:17		Owen White defensive rebound
18:53		Kevin Samuel misses two point hook shot
18:51		Kevin Samuel offensive rebound
18:51		Jordan Brown shooting foul (Kevin Samuel draws the foul)
18:51		Kevin Samuel misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:51	+1	Kevin Samuel makes regular free throw 2 of 2	3-0
18:32		Terence Lewis II misses two point jump shot
18:30		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
18:23	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point layup	5-0
18:07	+3	Themus Fulks makes three point jump shot	5-3
17:38	+2	Kevin Samuel makes two point layup	7-3
17:12		Terence Lewis II turnover (lost ball) (Tyrell Jones steals)
17:06	+2	Owen White makes two point layup (Tyrell Jones assists)	9-3
16:48		Jordan Brown misses two point layup
16:46		Owen White defensive rebound
16:36		Isaiah Moore misses two point layup
16:34		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
16:23		Owen White shooting foul (Terence Lewis II draws the foul)
16:23	+1	Terence Lewis II makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-4
16:23	+1	Terence Lewis II makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-5
16:10		Judah Brown turnover (bad pass) (Terence Lewis II steals)
15:59	+2	Terence Lewis II makes two point layup	9-7
15:44	+2	Kevin Samuel makes two point dunk (Tyrell Jones assists)	11-7
15:18		Kevin Samuel blocks Jordan Brown's two point layup
15:16		Jordan Brown offensive rebound
15:06		Terence Lewis II misses two point jump shot
15:04		Kevin Samuel defensive rebound
14:50	+3	Isaiah Moore makes three point jump shot (Tyrell Jones assists)	14-7
14:26	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	14-9
14:26		TV timeout
14:04		Isaiah Moore misses three point jump shot
14:02		Joe Charles defensive rebound
13:43	+3	Themus Fulks makes three point jump shot	14-12
13:24	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point layup	16-12
13:01		Judah Brown personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
12:51		Themus Fulks misses three point jump shot
12:49		Greg Parham defensive rebound
12:36	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point jump shot	18-12
12:24		Jalen Dalcourt misses two point jump shot
12:22		Kentrell Garnett offensive rebound
12:14	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point jump shot (Kentrell Garnett assists)	18-14
12:03		Joe Charles shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
12:03	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	19-14
12:03	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-14
11:46	+3	Michael Thomas makes three point jump shot (Jordan Brown assists)	20-17
11:25		Isaiah Moore turnover (traveling)
11:25		TV timeout
11:10	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point layup (Joe Charles assists)	20-19
10:41		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
10:39		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
10:31		Marshall Kearing personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
10:22	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point jump shot (Michael Thomas assists)	20-21
10:06		Greg Parham turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Dalcourt steals)
9:53		Jalen Dalcourt misses two point jump shot
9:51		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
9:34	+2	Greg Parham makes two point jump shot	22-21
9:20		Tyrell Jones personal foul (Michael Thomas draws the foul)
9:10		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
9:08		Judah Brown defensive rebound
8:59		Jalen Dalcourt personal foul (Greg Parham draws the foul)
8:56	+3	Greg Parham makes three point jump shot (Kevin Samuel assists)	25-21
8:39		Michael Thomas misses three point jump shot
8:37		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
8:29	+2	Kevin Samuel makes two point dunk (Tyrell Jones assists)	27-21
8:27		Ragin' Cajuns 30 second timeout
8:27		TV timeout
8:19		Michael Thomas misses two point jump shot
8:17		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
8:05		Isaiah Richards shooting foul (Kevin Samuel draws the foul)
8:05		Kevin Samuel misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:05		Kevin Samuel misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:05		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
7:43	+2	Kobe Julien makes two point layup	27-23
7:27		Greg Parham turnover (bad pass) (Kentrell Garnett steals)
7:10	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	27-25
6:42		Judah Brown misses three point jump shot
6:40		Tyrell Jones offensive rebound
6:36		Kevin Samuel turnover (lost ball) (Terence Lewis II steals)
6:26		Kevin Samuel personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
6:23	+3	Kentrell Garnett makes three point jump shot (Kobe Julien assists)	27-28
5:51		Kentrell Garnett shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
5:51	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-28
5:51		Isaiah Moore misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:51		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
5:44		Kevin Samuel blocks Kobe Julien's two point layup
5:42		Kobe Julien offensive rebound
5:36		Kentrell Garnett misses three point jump shot
5:34		Owen White defensive rebound
5:30	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point jump shot	30-28
5:15		Kentrell Garnett misses three point jump shot
5:13		Jaguars defensive rebound
4:57	+2	Owen White makes two point jump shot	32-28
4:25		Themus Fulks misses three point jump shot
4:25		Jordan Brown offensive rebound
4:25		Judah Brown personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
4:12		Kobe Julien misses two point jump shot
4:12		Isaiah Moore defensive rebound
4:12	+3	Tyrell Jones makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Moore assists)	35-28
3:47	+2	Jalen Dalcourt makes two point jump shot	35-30
3:27		Kevin Samuel turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Dalcourt steals)
3:21		Kevin Samuel personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
3:21		TV timeout
3:21		Jordan Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:21		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
3:10		Marshall Kearing misses two point jump shot
3:08		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
2:57	+3	Jalen Dalcourt makes three point jump shot	35-33
2:47		Greg Parham misses three point jump shot
2:45		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
2:16		Owen White blocks Jordan Brown's two point layup
2:14		Owen White defensive rebound
1:49		Isaiah Moore misses two point layup
1:47		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
1:37		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
1:35		Marshall Kearing defensive rebound
1:10	+2	Marshall Kearing makes two point layup (Isaiah Moore assists)	37-33
1:08		Jaguars 30 second timeout
0:53		Greg Williams Jr. turnover (traveling)
0:30		Owen White misses three point jump shot
0:28		Joe Charles defensive rebound
0:01		Themus Fulks misses three point jump shot
0:00		Jaguars defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
USA
Jaguars
29
LA
Ragin Cajuns
38

Time		Play	Score
19:48		Jalen Dalcourt misses three point jump shot
19:46		Kevin Samuel defensive rebound
19:27		Isaiah Moore misses two point layup
19:25		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
19:17		Joe Charles misses three point jump shot
19:15		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
18:54	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point jump shot	39-33
18:54		Joe Charles shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
18:54	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 1	40-33
18:36		Judah Brown personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
18:33	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point layup	40-35
18:05		Owen White misses two point jump shot
18:03		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
17:53		Jordan Brown turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Moore steals)
17:42		Tyrell Jones misses three point jump shot
17:40		Joe Charles defensive rebound
17:30		Isaiah Moore personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
17:30		Owen White personal foul
17:27		Isaiah Moore shooting foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
17:27		Jordan Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:27	+1	Jordan Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-36
17:16		Jalen Dalcourt personal foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
17:01	+2	Tyrell Jones makes two point layup	42-36
16:41	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	42-38
16:25		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
16:23		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
16:05	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	42-40
15:34	+2	Kevin Samuel makes two point jump shot	44-40
15:34		Jordan Brown shooting foul (Kevin Samuel draws the foul)
15:34		TV timeout
15:34		Kevin Samuel misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:34		Jalen Dalcourt defensive rebound
15:13	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point layup	44-42
14:41		Greg Parham misses two point jump shot
14:39		Kevin Samuel offensive rebound
14:21		Tyrell Jones offensive foul
14:21		Tyrell Jones turnover (offensive foul)
14:09		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
14:07		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
13:59		Kentrell Garnett shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
13:59		Isaiah Moore misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:59	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-42
13:49	+3	Jalen Dalcourt makes three point jump shot (Themus Fulks assists)	45-45
13:22		Greg Parham misses three point jump shot
13:20		Jaguars offensive rebound
13:00		Themus Fulks shooting foul (Kevin Samuel draws the foul)
13:00	+1	Kevin Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-45
13:00		Kevin Samuel misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:00		Terence Lewis II defensive rebound
12:34	+2	Terence Lewis II makes two point layup (Themus Fulks assists)	46-47
12:15		Kevin Samuel misses two point layup
12:13		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
12:05		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
12:03		Terence Lewis II offensive rebound
12:00	+2	Terence Lewis II makes two point layup	46-49
12:00		Jaguars 30 second timeout
12:00		TV timeout
11:48		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
11:46		Kentrell Garnett defensive rebound
11:35		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
11:33		Kevin Samuel defensive rebound
11:20		Isaiah Moore turnover (bad pass)
11:20		TV timeout
11:03	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	46-51
10:46		Themus Fulks personal foul (Tyrell Jones draws the foul)
10:31	+2	Owen White makes two point layup	48-51
10:06	+3	Themus Fulks makes three point jump shot	48-54
9:57		Kentrell Garnett personal foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
9:57	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-54
9:57	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-54
9:43		Greg Parham personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
9:40	+2	Jordan Brown makes two point jump shot	50-56
9:17	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point layup	52-56
8:56	+2	Themus Fulks makes two point layup	52-58
8:36	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point jump shot	54-58
8:14		Jordan Brown turnover (lost ball) (Kevin Samuel steals)
7:55	+2	Kevin Samuel makes two point layup (Isaiah Moore assists)	56-58
7:54		TV timeout
7:54		Isaiah Richards technical foul
7:54		Isaiah Richards turnover
7:54		Kevin Samuel misses technical free throw 1 of 2
7:54		Kevin Samuel misses technical free throw 2 of 2
7:54		Jaguars offensive rebound
7:40		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
7:38		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
7:13		Kentrell Garnett misses three point jump shot
7:11		Kevin Samuel defensive rebound
6:47		Joe Charles shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
6:47		Isaiah Moore misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:47	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-58
6:23	+3	Jalen Dalcourt makes three point jump shot (Jordan Brown assists)	57-61
5:59	+2	Isaiah Moore makes two point layup	59-61
5:27		Themus Fulks misses two point jump shot
5:25		Ragin' Cajuns offensive rebound
5:17	+2	Terence Lewis II makes two point jump shot (Jalen Dalcourt assists)	59-63
5:07		Isaiah Moore turnover (bad pass)
4:52		Jordan Brown misses two point jump shot
4:50		Greg Parham defensive rebound
4:37		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
4:35		Terence Lewis II defensive rebound
4:31		Themus Fulks turnover (bad pass) (Greg Parham steals)
4:24		Greg Parham misses two point jump shot
4:22		Terence Lewis II defensive rebound
4:14		Ragin' Cajuns 30 second timeout
4:03		TV timeout
4:03		Themus Fulks turnover (bad pass) (Tyrell Jones steals)
3:45		Greg Parham misses two point jump shot
3:43		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
3:21		Jalen Dalcourt misses two point jump shot
3:19		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
3:09		Owen White misses three point jump shot
3:07		Kentrell Garnett defensive rebound
2:42		Greg Parham shooting foul (Themus Fulks draws the foul)
2:42	+1	Themus Fulks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-64
2:42	+1	Themus Fulks makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-65
2:21		Kentrell Garnett shooting foul (Tyrell Jones draws the foul)
2:21	+1	Tyrell Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-65
2:21	+1	Tyrell Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-65
2:08		Kevin Samuel personal foul (Jordan Brown draws the foul)
2:08		Jordan Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:08		Tyrell Jones defensive rebound
1:56		Jalen Dalcourt personal foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
1:56	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-65
1:56	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-65
1:36		Jordan Brown turnover (traveling)
1:36		Jaguars 30 second timeout
1:20		Isaiah Moore misses two point jump shot
1:18		Jordan Brown defensive rebound
0:58		Themus Fulks turnover (lost ball) (Tyrell Jones steals)
0:53		Themus Fulks shooting foul (Tyrell Jones draws the foul)
0:53	+1	Tyrell Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-65
0:53		Tyrell Jones misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:53		Terence Lewis II defensive rebound
0:28	+2	Jalen Dalcourt makes two point jump shot (Themus Fulks assists)	64-67
0:27		Ragin' Cajuns 30 second timeout
0:15		Jalen Dalcourt shooting foul (Isaiah Moore draws the foul)
0:15	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-67
0:15	+1	Isaiah Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-67
0:13		Judah Brown personal foul (Terence Lewis II draws the foul)
0:13	+1	Terence Lewis II makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-68
0:13	+1	Terence Lewis II makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-69
0:13		Jaguars 30 second timeout
0:04		Owen White misses three point jump shot
0:02		Kentrell Garnett defensive rebound
0:01		Tyrell Jones personal foul (Kentrell Garnett draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Kentrell Garnett makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-70
0:01	+1	Kentrell Garnett makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-71
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Kentrell Garnett makes regular free throw 2 of 2