NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana-Lafayette’s dream season came to an unexpected end.

The Ragin’ Cajuns entered Saturday’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinal having won a school record 27 games, claimed its first outright Sun Belt Conference title in 18 years, and was just two wins away from clinching only its 11th berth into the NCAA Men’s Tournament. 

The Cajuns though were rudely awakened from that pleasant dream as No. 4 seed UT-Arlington upset the tournament’s top seed 71-68. UTA will face Georgia State in the championship game today at 1 p.m.

“I am proud of our team,” Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished this year as it is the best year in school history. I am not going to let a couple of bad breaks in the last minute take away for my love for this basketball team.”

Louisiana-Lafayette (27-6) started off the game strong as senior Frank Bartley got things with a fade away jumper. That would spark a 9-2 run and the Cajuns appeared to be in control against a team that they had defeated by 12 and 21 points during the regular season.

UT-Arlington (21-12) though responded with a 14-1 run and the rest of the game would be a back-and-forth.

“We knew it was going to be a hard fought battle from jump,” Washington said. 

For the second straight game, the Cajuns had to play without JaKeenan Gant. The reigning Sun Belt Conference Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year played only nine minutes on Saturday. Gant has been dealing with upper respiratory issues all week and only played three minutes in Friday’s quarterfinal win over Texas State.

Despite not having Gant, and Johnathan Stove still slowed by a high ankle sprain, the Cajuns held a slim lead with 5:04 in the first half after a three-pointer by Bartley but the Mavericks responded with a 9-1 run. 

The Cajuns made another run and when Justin Miller put back a missed free throw by Bryce Washington, the tourney’s top seed was only down 37-34 at the break.

In the second half, UT-Arlington was able to increase the lead by as much as eight points as the Cajuns struggled shooting (23.1 percent from three, 41 percent from field) and the Mavericks outrebounded them 40-31.

“They got big rebounds… that was my fault,” said Washington, who had team-high 10 rebounds in the loss. “They wanted it more than me and that’s the part that hurts the most. My one job is rebounding and that’s not what a senior leader does.”

Despite all that, the Cajuns were still fighting and after a steal by Bartley produced a fast-break layup by Marcus Stroman, the Cajuns led the Mavericks 64-60 with 5:47 to go.

“We thought we had them on the ropes right there,” Marlin said. 

Louisiana-Lafayette seemed primed to extend the lead at that point but UT-Arlington though would respond as Kaelon Wilson hit a three-pointer that sparked a 7-0 run but the Cajuns would take the lead back with a pair of free throws by Bartley. 

The Cajuns though wouldn’t score again in the final 1:54 and managed just three shot attempts on two possessions down the stretch. 

“We shot 2-of-13 in the second half,” Marlin said. “We couldn’t get a three-pointer in. We shot too many in the first half and in the second we couldn’t get one in.”

Both Cedric Russell and Washington attempted three-pointers on the final possession but neither fell as the Cajuns left the tournament a day early.

The Cajuns had four players in double figures with Bartley leading all scorers with 19, followed by 14 from Miller and 11 each from Malik Marquetti and Washington. 

The Mavericks were paced by Erick Neal with 18 while Kevin Hervey had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The season though doesn’t end for the Cajuns in New Orleans.

By winning the regular season conference championship, the team is guaranteed a spot in the NIT which begins first-round games on Tuesday. The NIT pairings will be released Sunday night.

“The goal was the NCAA Tournament for the five seniors,” Washington said. 

“You know we fill a little short. Just to get chance to play in the NIT is a blessing still. It gives you chance to wake up and go to practice.”