Box Score NEW ORLEANS ? Louisiana-Lafayette held New Orleans to 31 percent shooting, and the visiting Ragin' Cajuns hung on for a 72-70 win on Wednesday at the Human Performance Center.
Freshman Chris Gradnigo had a career-high 25 points, including 18 in the first half, to help ULL (13-13, 9-6 Sun Belt Conference) sweep UNO in the season series.
Elijah Millsap added 12 points, including two clutch free throws late. The sophomore also had a game-high 11 rebounds off the bench. ULL used 12 players on the night.
Bo McCalebb paced UNO (17-10, 7-8 Sun Belt) with 18 points ? all in the second half. McCalebb, ranked sixth nationally in scoring, was just 7-for-20 from the field and 0-for-8 in the first half.
But the New Orleans native helped the Privateers outscore ULL 19-5 during the game's final 5:37. The Cajuns had led by double figures throughout the second half before struggling late.
ULL was 3-of-9 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes, helping UNO cut a six-point lead with 1:53 remaining. The Privateers got the lead down to 70-68 with 49 seconds remaining.
After Gradnigo missed a 3-pointer, Millsap got a huge offensive rebound and was fouled. The reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, who was just 57 percent from the line entering the game, was 0-for-4 from the line entering the crucial situation.
Millsap calmly knocked down both free throws to give the Cajuns a 72-68 lead.
UNO, which trailed by as many as 19 in the first half, cut the margin to 72-70 with nine seconds left following a McCalebb layup. ULL's Randell Daigle then missed two free throws to give UNO a chance.
UNO's Kechan Myers drove the lane but his layup bounced off the rim ? leading ULL to its fifth Sun Belt road win of the year.
The Cajuns, who never trailed, held UNO to 22 percent shooting in the first half and led 41-25 at halftime. The Privateers started the game 2-for-24 from the field.
UNO will continue Sun Belt play at Denver on Sunday.
