LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference clash between two teams desperate to escape the league’s cellar, Joshua Lewis delivered a career performance to lift Louisiana-Lafayette to a narrow victory over in-state rival Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday night.

Lewis, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Tampa, Florida, scored a career-high 26 points to propel the Ragin’ Cajuns to an 85-79 win over the Warhawks before 2,341 fans at the Cajundome. The win improved Louisiana-Lafayette to 4-13 overall, while Louisiana-Monroe fell to 3-14.

The game, a rematch of a Dec. 20 contest won by the Ragin’ Cajuns 76-62, was a back-and-forth affair defined by runs and resilient responses. The most critical sequence came late in the second half with the outcome still in doubt. Leading 73-71 with just over six minutes to play, Louisiana-Lafayette engineered a decisive 8-0 spurt. De’Vion Lavergne sank a 3-pointer, Dorian Finister converted a driving layup, and Lewis capped the run with a clutch 3-pointer from the wing, pushing the lead to 81-71 with 4:47 remaining and forcing a Warhawks timeout.

Louisiana-Monroe, led by Krystian Lewis’s 25 points, refused to fold. The Warhawks clawed back within four points on two occasions in the final 90 seconds, but the Ragin’ Cajuns consistently answered at the free-throw line. Joshua Lewis, who had been stellar all night, calmly made four consecutive free throws in the final 16 seconds to seal the victory.

The first half set the tone for a tight contest, with Louisiana-Lafayette taking a slim 37-36 lead into the break. The Warhawks relied on efficient shooting, finishing the game at 53.8% from the field and an impressive 7 of 13 from 3-point range. However, they were undone by a significant deficit on the glass, as the Ragin’ Cajuns dominated the offensive boards 14-3, leading to 13 second-chance points.

Joshua Lewis was the catalyst for the home team, adding three rebounds and a block in 31 minutes. His scoring outburst surpassed his previous season high and provided the offensive consistency Louisiana-Lafayette has often lacked. He received strong support from Dariyus Woodson, who scored 17 points off the bench, and Dorian Finister, who added 16 points, four assists and a block.

For Louisiana-Monroe, Krystian Lewis, a 6-3 guard from Monroe, played 38 minutes and added three assists to his 25 points. MJ Russell contributed 14 points, while Renars Sondors of Latvia scored 12. The Warhawks won the turnover battle, forcing 15 and committing 12, and scored 40 points in the paint, but could not overcome Louisiana-Lafayette’s extra possessions generated by offensive rebounds.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Louisiana-Lafayette held a slight edge in offensive rating, 111.7 to 110.6, and made 11 3-pointers to Louisiana-Monroe’s seven, though on 33 attempts. The Warhawks were better from the foul line, making 16 of 22, while the Ragin’ Cajuns hit just 8 of 15.

The victory gives Louisiana-Lafayette a season sweep of the series and a modest boost heading into a Saturday home game against Troy. Louisiana-Monroe, still seeking its first Sun Belt win, travels to face Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Both teams entered the night with identical 0-2 conference records, making the head-to-head result a potentially important tiebreaker as they navigate the remainder of a difficult season.