Louisiana
CAJUNS GAMER: Louisiana beats Bowling Green in SBC-MAC Challenge
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team defeated the Bowling Green Falcons 86-60 on Sunday afternoon inside the Cajundome. The victory gives the Sun Belt Conference a 10-2 record in the second round of the Sun Belt-MAC Challenge, which concluded with this matchup.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game began with quick offense on both ends, as the Cajuns took an early 4-1 lead that was quickly erased by a 7-0 for Bowling Green to make it 8-4. After that, the teams traded buckets before a nice assist from Hosana Kitenge to Joe Charles made it 10-8 Bowling Green at the first media timeout.
The back-and-forth nature of this game continued throughout the half, with both offenses executing well. Right before the next media timeout, Kyran Ratliff showed some range as he made his first three-point shot of the season to cut the lead to 20-19.
Louisiana got a nice lift off the bench from Michael Thomas in the next stretch of play, as he scored a couple of buckets to help give the Cajuns a five-point lead at 29-24. That lead got extended to nine after another quick run from the Cajuns, and it would stay there at the final first half media timeout at 35-26. That lead would grow even larger as Louisiana played very well down the stretch in the first half, bringing a 41-30 lead to the halftime break.
The second half began with defensive intensity on both ends, making it more difficult for the offenses to get going. Eventually the Cajuns did, getting an impressive and-one from Themus Fulks and a triple from Kobe Julien. That made it 51-33 in favor of Louisiana.
The game was physical throughout, and the officials notably let them play more often than calling fouls. This resulted in a clunky stretch of play, with multiple loose balls on the floor ending up with tie ups rather than fouls being called. Regardless, Louisiana was able to maintain their lead throughout the half.
Inside of 10 minutes to play, the Cajuns put together a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 24 points at 64-40. That would be plenty, as they fended off any comeback efforts in the final eight minutes. A Kitenge and-one basket with 3:57 left made it 78-51 and put the cap on an impressive performance. They would hold on to win 86-60.
BIG NUMBER: 7
Today, the big number is more of a little number. Louisiana only turned it over seven times, controlling the ball and efficiently working on offense. They handled the Bowling Green defense effectively throughout the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Hosana Kitenge
Kitenge was a force on Sunday, securing a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. He also added three assists in a complete performance.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will head back on the road, as they face Old Dominion on Thursday, February 15th back in Sun Belt play at 6:00 PM.
Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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