LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Texas State 67-54 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Cajundome. Jaxon Olvera scored 20 points to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns, who improved to 10-19. Dorian Finister added 15 points and five assists. The home team avenged a January loss to the Bobcats. DJ Hall led Texas State with 18 points and six rebounds. The Bobcats, who entered as favorites, fell to 18-12 despite winning seven of their previous eight games. Texas State struggled offensively throughout the contest. Louisiana-Lafayette controlled the game defensively, with Todd Jones contributing eight rebounds and five blocked shots. The victory marked a rare bright spot in a challenging season for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half shooting display and a dominant defensive performance propelled the Louisiana-Lafayette men’s basketball team to a 67-54 victory over Texas State in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday at the Cajundome. The Ragin’ Cajuns, improving to 10-19 overall, seized control early and never trailed, exploiting a stark contrast in offensive efficiency. Louisiana-Lafayette connected on 9 of 13 attempts from 3-point range, a 69.2% clip, while the visiting Bobcats managed just 2 of 12 from beyond the arc. The home team’s offensive rating of 115.5, fueled by that perimeter accuracy and a 22-for-45 overall effort from the field, overwhelmed a Texas State offense that sputtered to an 82.4 rating on 19-of-51 shooting. The most important part of the game was Louisiana-Lafayette’s early establishment of a commanding lead through suffocating defense and near-flawless offensive execution. The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the game on a 15-2 run, a stretch that set the tone for the entire contest. Texas State missed its first six field goal attempts and committed three turnovers before finally scoring its first basket, a layup by DJ Hall, nearly five minutes into the game. During that decisive opening salvo, Louisiana-Lafayette’s Todd Jones scored on a putback, Dorian Finister hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, and the defense forced the Bobcats into a series of difficult shots and mistakes. Texas State, which fell to 18-12, never recovered from that initial deficit. The Bobcats cut the lead to single digits briefly in the second half, pulling within 42-36 on a Mark Drone layup with 17:50 remaining. However, Louisiana-Lafayette answered immediately with a 3-pointer from Dariyus Woodson, part of a 9-2 run that pushed the lead back to 13 points and effectively snuffed out the Bobcats’ last significant threat. Jaxon Olvera led all scorers with 20 points for Louisiana-Lafayette, showcasing his efficiency by making 7 of 12 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Dorian Finister provided a complete performance with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Todd Jones anchored the paint with eight points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Dariyus Woodson added 12 points, all from 3-point range. The Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense was equally impactful, recording seven steals and seven blocks while forcing 15 Texas State turnovers. Jones’ five blocks were a game-high, and his presence inside altered numerous other attempts. For Texas State, DJ Hall shouldered the offensive load with 18 points and six rebounds. Mark Drone added 10 points, and Kaden Gumbs contributed nine. The Bobcats were hampered by their inability to generate consistent offense, tallying only five assists against their 15 turnovers. The result flipped the script from the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 14, a 59-54 Texas State victory in San Marcos. It also marked a surprising outcome against the pregame projections, as Texas State entered as a 2.5-point favorite and was given a 66% probability to win by statistical models. Louisiana-Lafayette will look to build on the win when it travels to face Troy on Tuesday. Texas State, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, returns home to host Appalachian State next Friday.

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — A surging Texas State squad looks to continue its push in the Sun Belt Conference standings when it visits the struggling Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday. The Bobcats (17-11) enter the matchup at the Cajundome riding a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season. Their most recent victory was a 95-84 offensive showcase against Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday. In contrast, the Ragin’ Cajuns (9-18) have lost three of their last four, including an 83-72 road loss at Old Dominion on Monday. Texas State’s run has been fueled by the standout play of guard DJ Hall. Over the last five games, Hall is averaging 20.8 points, including a 27-point, 9-rebound, 5-assist performance in the win over ULM. His scoring versatility and playmaking will be a primary focus for the Louisiana-Lafayette defense. The Ragin’ Cajuns will counter with guard Jaxon Olvera, who is coming off a 23-point effort at Old Dominion. Olvera has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in five of his last six contests. Support from De’Vion Lavergne and Dorian Finister, who combined for 33 points on Monday, will be crucial. This is the second meeting between the teams this season. Texas State won the first matchup 59-54 in San Marcos on Jan. 14, a game characterized by defensive pressure and low scoring. The Bobcats will aim for a regular-season sweep. The game represents a stark contrast in momentum. Texas State, firmly in the mix for a favorable conference tournament seed, seeks to solidify its position. Louisiana-Lafayette, near the bottom of the league, looks to play spoiler and build positive momentum before hitting the road for two games next week. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Cajundome.