South Alabama basketball: Louisiana defeats Jaguars 88-79

South Alabama lost 88-79 to Louisiana. The Jaguars were out-rebounded and couldn't match the Ragin' Cajuns' toughness. Tough loss.

South Alabama suffered an 88-79 loss to Louisiana on Saturday at the Mitchell Center, and the box score tells the story. The Jaguars were out-rebounded 39-22, including 16-4 on the offensive glass. Louisiana made 10 of 20 3-point attempts and extended its winning streak against South Alabama to four games.

South Alabama coach Richie Riley expressed disappointment with his team's performance, emphasizing the lack of fight and toughness. Despite scoring points and shooting well, the Jaguars struggled defensively and on the glass. Riley stressed the need to improve in these areas to compete effectively against opponents like Louisiana.

The game started with South Alabama scoring the first seven points, but Louisiana quickly responded by scoring the next nine and maintaining control throughout. Louisiana's Kobe Julien and Joe Charles led the way with 24 and 22 points, respectively. However, it was the performance of Hosana Kitenge, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, that made a significant impact for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Despite a late surge by South Alabama, Louisiana secured the victory with key plays down the stretch. Louisiana's ability to capitalize on second-chance points and maintain its defensive toughness ultimately made the difference. South Alabama's Elijah Ormiston acknowledged the need to match the grit and toughness displayed by Louisiana to improve the team's performance.

Louisiana's win extended its dominance over South Alabama, as the Jaguars have now lost five of their last six meetings. South Alabama will look to regroup on the road as they prepare for their upcoming games, starting with a matchup against Louisiana-Monroe.