San Francisco Nips Cajuns 71-70

Cody Doolin's layup with 18.2 seconds left was the game winner as host San Francisco nipped Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns in the Cajuns' final game at the San Francisco Hilltop Challenge.

Doolin's shot for the Dons (2-1) came after Cajuns' freshman Elfrid Payton hit four free throws to give the Cajuns a 70-69 lead with under 30 seconds left.

The Cajuns (1-2) had one last chance, but Darshawn McClellan missed a shot on the baseline.  The Cajuns had one more chance with 0.1 seconds left, but Kadeem Coleby's attempted tip at the buzzer went in and out.

Sophomore J. J. Thomas led the Cajuns with 15 points.  Payton added 14 and Alan-Michael Thompson chipped in eleven.

"We improved as a basketball team today," Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said afterward.  "We had our chances at the end.  We just didn't get a shot to go down at the end."

The Cajuns shot 38% for the game and just 6-28 from three point range.  Louisiana was 12-12 from the free throw line.

The Cajuns had just nine turnovers, to 14 for the Dons, who shot 45% from the field and 40% (6-15) from three point range.

Louisiana will come back home to host the Beryl Shipley Classic presented by Budweiser next weekend.  The Cajuns will host Houston Baptist Friday at 7:30, Cal State-Fullerton Saturday at 7:30 and Nicholls State Sunday at 3:30.  All games will be at the Cajundome.