Preview: Georgia State Panthers at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Two Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball teams heading in opposite directions will meet Thursday night when the Georgia State Panthers visit the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at the Cajundome.

The Panthers (9-12, 4-4 Sun Belt) have found a rhythm, winning four of their last five games, including a dramatic 82-81 victory over Arkansas State last Saturday. Their surge has coincided with the stellar play of guard Jelani Hamilton, who is averaging 24.1 points over his last seven contests. He erupted for a career-high 38 points in the win over Arkansas State.

Conversely, the Ragin’ Cajuns (5-16, 2-6) have struggled, dropping five of their last seven. They are coming off a 72-58 loss at Appalachian State last Thursday. Guard Dorian Finister has been a bright spot, scoring in double figures in six straight games, including a 25-point performance against Troy on Jan. 10.

Georgia State’s recent success has been fueled by offense, averaging 78.2 points during its 4-1 stretch. Louisiana-Lafayette has averaged just 63.4 points in conference play and will need to contain Hamilton to snap its skid.

The Panthers won the first meeting last season, 80-71, in Atlanta. Hamilton scored 21 points in that game.

This matchup represents a critical point in the Sun Belt schedule. Georgia State aims to climb above .500 in league play and continue its mid-season turnaround. For Louisiana-Lafayette, the game is an opportunity to halt its slide and gain momentum before a challenging February slate.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST Thursday. Georgia State travels to South Alabama on Saturday, while Louisiana-Lafayette hosts Georgia Southern.