LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Jaxon Olvera scored 20 points to lead Louisiana-Lafayette to a 58-52 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at the Cajundome.

In a contest defined by offensive struggles, the Ragin’ Cajuns used a dominant first-half performance to build a cushion that withstood a late push from the Lions. A crowd of 3,304 watched as Louisiana-Lafayette evened its record at 1-1 while Southeastern Louisiana fell to 0-2.

The Ragin’ Cajuns took control early, closing the first half on a 9-3 run to carry a 34-20 lead into the break. Olvera, a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston, Texas, was the catalyst, scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points before halftime. His back-to-back jump shots midway through the period sparked a run that gave Louisiana-Lafayette a double-digit lead it would not relinquish.

Southeastern Louisiana mounted a significant challenge in the second half, outscoring the Ragin’ Cajuns 32-24. The Lions cut the deficit to just four points in the final minutes, but could not complete the comeback, hampered by poor free-throw shooting and inefficient offense throughout the game.

The Lions shot a frigid 33.3% from the field, making just 15 of 45 attempts. Their struggles were compounded at the free-throw line, where they converted only 18 of 31 attempts. From beyond the arc, Southeastern Louisiana was 4 of 19.

Louisiana-Lafayette was far more efficient from the floor, shooting 52.3% on 23-of-44 shooting. However, the Ragin’ Cajuns also struggled from the line, making just 7 of 12 free throws, and committed 10 turnovers.

Beyond Olvera’s scoring outburst, Louisiana-Lafayette received balanced contributions. Dorian Finister of New Orleans added 12 points, while Jamyron Keller from St. Matthews, South Carolina, chipped in 13. De’Vion Lavergne of Melville, Louisiana, filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.

For Southeastern Louisiana, Jalen Forrest of Decatur, Georgia, led the way with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Jeremy Elyzee from Hialeah, Florida, added 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a block. Jaiden Lawrence of Bowling Green, Kentucky, pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds to go with 8 points.

A key disparity came in offensive efficiency. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 102.3 points per 100 possessions, while the Lions managed just 82.9 points per 100 possessions despite having more offensive rebounds, 8 to 3.

Southeastern Louisiana continues its difficult early-season schedule on the road at Georgia Tech on Monday. Louisiana-Lafayette returns to the Cajundome to host Tulane on Tuesday.