Akron Zips Rout Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 75-61 in Season Opener
Despite a late surge that trimmed the deficit to seven points, the Cajuns fell short against a team that won 29 games last season.
By Arjun Tanaka ·
Akron dismantled the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 75-61 on Monday at the Cajundome, extending a lead to 19 points before a late rally fell short. The Zips entered the game as the superior squad, having won 29 contests in the previous campaign, while the Cajuns started the season without three key contributors and welcomed 11 new players to the roster.
The disparity in execution was evident in the shooting splits. Akron shot 46% from the field, whereas the home team managed only 28.6%. The Zips also controlled the glass, outbounding Louisiana 45 to 29. Ty Pence led Akron with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Evan Mahaffey contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds. Tahj Staveskie added 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc.
Jamyron Keller was the standout performer for the Cajuns. The redshirt junior led all scorers with 26 points, including four three-pointers. He shot 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and dished out four assists. Despite the loss, Keller displayed visible emotion after the final buzzer, emphasizing the team's need to capitalize on opportunities.
"We've got to get it," Keller said. "We had it, I think we cut it to seven, in the second half. No matter how I'm feeling, we just have got to get it done."
Coach Quannas White noted that the adversity faced during the game revealed the character of his new group. He praised the resilience shown by players who refused to give in despite the deficit. White also highlighted the efforts of freshman forward Dani Pounds, who recorded 15 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in 30 minutes. Pounds finished with four dunks and made a three-pointer in the late stages of the game.
"He's a bright spot for us, man," White said of Pounds. "Dani Pounds is going to help us. I love him."
Trent Middleton started at point guard due to an injury to Mekhi Cooper. Middleton finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals in 31 minutes. Cooper, who has missed a month with a hip flexor injury, played 26 minutes off the bench and recorded five points with three assists. White noted that Cooper had only practiced for two days before the contest.
The game trajectory shifted early in the second half. After trailing 26-22 with 7:45 remaining in the first half, the Zips erupted on a 15-1 run. This sequence built a 19-point lead one minute into the second half. Akron maintained four separate 19-point leads during the second period, reaching a 57-38 advantage with 13:10 left on the clock.
Louisiana mounted a response with a 19-7 run that cut the deficit to 64-57 with 6:52 remaining. However, Akron answered with a 7-0 sequence to seal the victory. The Cajuns failed to score in the final 3:20 of the game. White pointed to defensive breakdowns in transition as the primary reason for the early Zips run, noting that the team allowed too many uncontested three-pointers.
Injuries continue to plague the Cajuns rotation. De'Vion Lavergne suffered an injury and recorded one point in 19 minutes. Todd Jones and Deion Ware did not play, with both expected to return at some point in November. White said the team rushed several shots but created good looks, stating that the misses will come with continued work.
Source: The Advocate
