MOBILE, Ala. — Jaxon Olvera hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final half-minute, the last with just 2.1 seconds remaining, as Louisiana avenged a New Year’s Eve loss to Sun Belt Conference rival South Alabama, defeating the Jaguars, 59-56, before an announced crowd of 2,617 on Saturday at the Mitchell Center.

Olvera scored nine of his team-high 14 points in the second half as Louisiana (5-15, 3-5 SBC) sank a season-high 15 3-pointers on a school-record 42 attempts in earning its second road win of the season.

Similar to the game at the Cajundome on December 31 – a game where South Alabama scored the game’s final nine points in the final 1:28 in a 63-58 win – Louisiana had the lead late.

Dorian Finister’s 3-pointer gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 53-47 lead with 4:16 remaining, but South Alabama (13-6, 4-3 SBC) went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead and was on trek to notch another comeback win.

Close

Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
KLFY Daily Digest
SIGN UP NOW

Chaze Harris hit a hook shot inside the paint for the Jaguars, Jayden Cooper buried a desperation 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, and Randy Brady got a layup inside, giving South Alabama the lead with 56 seconds left.

Olvera, who was 5-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-11 from long range, chased down his own miss and later gave Louisiana a 56-54 lead with a second-chance 3-pointer from the left wing with 24 seconds left.

After a South Alabama timeout, the Jaguars tied the game when Harris, the Sun Belt’s leading scorer entering the game, hit a bucket inside to knot the game at 56-all with 11 seconds left.

Finister took a pass from De’Vion Lavergne and found Olvera in nearly the same spot on the left wing for the game-winner. Adam Olsen’s desperation attempt at the buzzer fell short as Louisiana snapped a three-game losing streak to the Jaguars, while winning in Mobile for the second time in the past three meetings.

Milan Mejia connected on four 3-pointers to finish with a season-high 13 points for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Lavergne adding 12 points with five assists.

Harris tallied his season average of 18 points while Cooper added 11. Olsen, who scored a career-high 26 against the Cajuns in the previous meeting, was held to nine points on 3 of 10 shooting.

Olsen grabbed a team-high nine rebounds as South Alabama enjoyed a 37-27 rebounding advantage. Todd Jones Jr., equaled his season high with nine rebounds and added four blocked shots for Louisiana with Finister finishing with nine points, six rebounds and five assists.

Louisiana held South Alabama to 43 percent from the field, including 9-for-25 (.360) in the first half in taking a 26-25 lead at the break. The Ragin’ Cajuns, who started the game 1 of 7 from the floor with their first 11 shots coming from behind the 3-point line, finished 21-for-55 (.382) from the floor.

South Alabama finished 3-for-10 from the free-throw line, with Louisiana going 2-for-4. The teams combined for 15 turnovers with Louisiana committing seven and the Jags finishing with eight.

Louisiana will continue its four-game, Sun Belt Conference road trip with a pair of games beginning Thursday at Appalachian State before a Saturday contest against Old Dominion.

Latest news

Olvera’s late heroics helps Louisiana beat Jags, 59-56

Local priest arrested on sex crimes charges involving children

Narcotics seized in Evangeline Parish traffic stop

Unidentified pedestrian killed in Lafayette Parish crash

Ragin’ Cajuns fall in rematch with Warhawks

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.