University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Louisiana-Lafayette
Cougars Toppled By Rajun Cajuns, 81-67
1/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 3, 2004
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Antoine Landry scored a career-high 26 points to lead Louisiana-Lafayette to an 81-67 victory over Houston in the Cajundome on Saturday, January 03. Landry scored 13 of his points in the first half to lead the Cajuns to a 34-23 halftime lead.
Houston was forced to play seven minutes without its scoring leader, Andre Owens, after he picked up his second foul with 8:47 left to play in the opening period. Senior Marcus Oliver kept Houston within reach as he scored 10 points to lead the Cougars in the first half.
In the second half, Houston used some timely three-point shooting to climb back into the game. Lanny Smith opened the period with a trey. After Landry answered with a trey of his own, Oliver came down and hit another trey from 20 feet on the left side.
On Houston's next two possessions, Owens hit a 20-foot three-point shot from the left baseline corner and Ramon Dyer hit a trey from the top of the key to pull Houston to within four points at 41-37 with 14:08 remaining in the game.
That was as close as Houston could get because Cedric Williams scored four baskets during the next four minutes to extend Louisiana's lead to 55-43. Oliver made two baskets and Smith drove for a lay-up to pull the Cougars to within, 55-49 with 8:34 left to play. But, Williams scored two lay-ups off an offensive rebound and Landry scored five points off a trey and a lay-up to put the Cajuns back up, 64-49, with 6:32 left to play.
UL-Lafayette never looked back and went on to win 81-67.
Owens led the Cougars with 21 points after scoring 15 points in the second half, and Oliver added a season-best 20 points. Senior center Anwar Ferguson also scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked six shots for the Cougars.
The loss dropped Houston's overall record to 6-4 this season. The Cougars will have to rebound quickly as they open Conference USA play Wednesday night against nationally-ranked and defending Conference USA champion Marquette.
