Cajuns Pull Out Big Win Over North Texas

DENTON, Texas - A three-point field goal from freshman Steven Wronkoski with 1:10 to play swung a back-and-forth second half to Louisiana's advantage and sent North Texas to an 80-76 loss in the Cajuns first road test in Sun Belt Conference Saturday night at the Super Pit.

The Mean Green (3-5) took a 71-68 lead after Jordan Williams hit a three-pointer, but North Texas went cold for the final two minutes of the game and didn't score another field goal until four seconds left in the game. The Cajuns (3-5, 1-1) were good on nine of ten free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

After the three-point shot from Chris Jones with four seconds left pulling the Mean Green within one, 77-76. Bryant Mbamalu stepped to the line for the first time in the contest, with 3.4 seconds left and nailed both free throws.

Elridge Moore captured a steal on the length-of-the-court inbounds pass by the Mean Green and hit one of two free throw tries for the final margin.

There were 15 ties and 15 lead changes in the game.

A career-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting by Long, season-high 19 points that included a 5-of-5 showing from three-point range from Mbalamu combined with a career-high tying nine assists by Payton led Louisiana to its fourth consecutive regular season win over North Texas.

Jones led North Texas in scoring with a season-high 23 points. But the Mean Green struggled all night to get its leading scorer, Tony Mitchell, involved in the offense. The All-American sophomore finished with three points, a season low.