Going into Monday's 56-39 home victory over Southern of New Orleans, UL coach Quannas White knew there would be challenges for his Ragin' Cajuns.

After all, the list of players not available was a long one.

Trent Middleton and Josiah Harris are still in concussion protocol. Dani Pounds was ill. Todd Jones and Deion Ware haven't played yet and still aren't available.

So when Jeremiah Evans fouled out after only 16 minutes on the floor, the Cajuns only had eight players dressed.

"I'm proud of the group that played tonight," White said. "Those guys found a way to just battle in there and did some really good things. We did some good things defensively and offensively. So now we just got to build on this and get back to the drawing board, watch film, and move forward."

White wasn't sure how many would be back in time for Friday's road game against UNC-Wilimington.

"Next man up mentality, man. You figure it out. 
Nobody is going to pity you or cares how many guys you got out there. You've  got to find a way to win."

So there was more than the usual amount of sloppiness in the Cajuns on Monday. The  Cajuns shot 24.1% from the field and 20% from 3-point land. Fortunately, they hit 21 of of their 28 free throws.

SUNO only made 28.6% of its shot and 13.3% behind the arc. Fortunately for the Cajuns, it only made 17 of 33 free throws for 51.5%. Had the Knights shot a high percentage at the line, things would have been more interesting than anyone in Lafayette ever expected.

The game featured 41 turnovers - 24 committed by the visitors. The Cajuns outrebounded SUNO 45-32.

"I thought we did some good things with our press. early on that for some turnovers," White said. "
I thought our guys was playing hard, communicating on defense, and just making it hard for SUNO to get the ball into their actions or get the ball up court."

Even UL's two most experienced players - De'Vion Lavergne and Jamyron Keller - struggled to knock down shots. Lavergne did make two 3s, but on 4-of-13 shooting for 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Keller was 5-of-19 overall and 4-of-14 from 3-point land for 16 points and nine rebounds.

It's been an interesting transition for Lavergne, who was forced to play point guard last season because of injuries and now is in between those two positions.

"I would say it's been a little bit more challenging, adjusting from being a point guard last year, and I was the main point guard," Lavergne said. "So the ball was in my hand most of the time. Now I'm moving without the ball, hunting my own shots as well, still trying to get others involved. So it's just a little adjustment.

And over time, it's going to get better." 

No UL player shot over 50% from the field in the game. In fact, the only player that did was SUNO"s Tynerion Jackson, who made his only attempt.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for UL is true freshman Derrick Florence showed his athleticism by getting 10 rebounds off the bench in 18 minutes of play, many of them in an acrobatic manner.

The good part of a game like this was UL's staff was able to see a lot of young players who normally wouldn't get significant minutes. For example, 6-foot-10 freshman Mikhail Dulkay finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes.

"I still need to get my defense better," Dulkay said. "Here there is another speed, so where I used to play in Russia, the speed is lower, and the level of athleticism is lower. So I've got to try to get lower in the stance and defense and guard multiple positions.

"That's how I will be on the floor and just be aggressive every time I touch the ball. I can create, I can create for myself, I can create for everybody else on the floor."