LAFAYETTE — Louisiana-Lafayette is looking to keep building momentum during the men’s basketball team’s six-game slate of games against in-state opponents — better known as the “Louisiana Swing.”

Louisiana-Lafayette (6-2) began the stretch with a hard-fought 89-78 victory over rival McNeese State on Nov. 28 and then followed that up with a 105-80 road victory over Nicholls this past Friday. Louisiana-Lafayette will play host Loyola-New Orleans tonight at the Cajundome, followed by a road game at Louisiana Tech on Tuesday and then a pair of home games against New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

“All of these games are important certainly preparing us for conference play,” Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Bob Marlin said. “It was important toe even our road record at Nicholls. It will be a tough game in Ruston next week. They have success early and it should be a good basketball game. All these games should prepare us for our conference play.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns entered the “Louisiana Swing” coming off an impressive showing at the inaugural Cayman Islands Classic which saw the team take down Iowa of the Big 10 and Richmond of the Atlantic 10. 

That success didn’t prevent Louisiana-Lafayette from having its hands full against McNeese as the Cowboys pushed the Cajuns in the second half. Malik Marquetti stepped up for UL-Lafayette by scoring 12 of his career-high 17 points in the second half, including draining five of six from 3-point range. JaKeenan Gant also stepped up big for the Cajuns that night, scoring 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

The Cajuns’ two transfers from Power 5 programs USC and Missouri, who were forced to sit last season due to NCAA rules, have played at a high level this season. The 6-foot-8 Gant is averaging 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds while 6-foot-6 junior Marquetti is averaging 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds. 

“JaKeenan Gant has played very well,” Marlin said. “He had a great second half the other night. We’ve had other guys that have done a good job. Johnathan Stove and Malik Marquetti have played very well the last two games.”

That production from Gant and Marquetti has helped give the Cajuns four players who are averaging in double-figure scoring along senior guard Frank Bartley (15.9) and sophomore forward Justin Miller (10.4) while senior forward Bryce Washington is just below double figures (9.9). Each of those three started last season. 

The McNeese State game also saw the return of Stove, who had been sidelined for five games with an ankle injury. Stove scored 11 points in his return to the hardwood. The senior guard was even better against Nicholls, scoring a career-high 23 points to put six players in double figures in the victory. 

“He has just gotten better and better,” Marlin said. “He did a great job for us a year ago in the summer and then got hurt in the Delaware State game. He came back too early and it took him about 10 games to get back into his rhythm. 

“This spring he was good, and this summer he was good. He was our best player in Cuba and our best player against Ole Miss. Then the day after that game he got hurt. This time I will give him some props because of his experience before he knew to take his time and be solid when he returned.”

Marlin and his team will now look to shut down a Loyola team that loves to shoot it from beyond the arc. The Wolfpack shot 33 3-pointers in the past two games. 

“They are a very good 3-point shooting team,” Marlin said. “That’s the great equalizer in our sport. We will have to continue to defend the three-point line and play aggressive on defense and stay aggressive on offense.”