A South Alabama basketball team playing without its best big man couldn’t hang on vs. Louisiana on Saturday at the Mitchell Center.

The Jaguars led by seven at halftime, but lost 79-76 in a game that featured 11 lead changes. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored five of the last seven points after the score was tied 74-74 heading into the final 70 seconds.

South Alabama (8-10, 2-4 Sun Belt Conference) was without star center Kevin Samuel, who averages 11.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game but was sidelined with a sore knee. Back-up Marshall Kearing responded with a career-high 15 points, but the Jaguars couldn’t get enough defensive stops in the final moments.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to find a way to win the game,” South Alabama coach Richie Riley said. “… Those guys that were in the last six minutes, those guys battled. They battled harder that we have all year, even in the wins we’ve had. They wanted that fight against a heck of a team. They earned a lot of confidence from me, and I think it will help us down the stretch.”

Louisiana’s Kobe Julien scored the go-ahead bucket with 1:09 left, a play on which Kearing was called for goal-tending. After South Alabama turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, Themus Folks got to the basket for two more and a 78-74 lead for the Ragin’ Cajuns (14-4, 4-2) with 23 seconds to play.

Isaiah Moore’s driving layup cut the Louisiana lead to two at 78-76 with 16.4 seconds remaining, then Terrence Lewis missed both free throws after he was fouled with 7.8 seconds left. Greg Williams got the rebounds for the Ragin’ Cajuns, however, and made his first free throw after he was fouled with 5.5 seconds to play to make it 79-76.

Williams missed the second freebie, however, and South Alabama’s Judah Brown got the rebound. The scoreboard had not updated after Williams’ made free throw — showing Louisiana up by two instead of by three — and Brown did not get a shot off in the confusion.

“Judah has not been in that moment a lot and the ball found him,” Riley said. “He kind of just dribbled it and got inside the arc and shooting. We were all aware that we needed 3, but in those moments, when you haven’t been in those moments a lot, it’s more pressure than you can imagine. I wish he would have got one up, because he might have made it.

“But on the free throw box out (when Lewis missed his second shot), if we could have got that, then we’re in a different situation. We had no timeouts and felt comfortable with the lineup we had out there. … We just missed the box out and they got it. It was a killer missed opportunity.”

South Alabama played one of its best offensive games of the season despite the loss, shooting 55.9% from the floor and making nine 3-pointers. Moore scored 21 points with six assists, while Brown had 12 while converting on all four of his 3-point attempts.

Owen White and Jamar Franklin had 10 points each, both making key 3-pointers in the final four minutes of the game. Kearing — who had seven rebounds in addition to his career-best point total — said he found out only Saturday morning that he was starting in place of Samuel, who tweaked his knee during Thursday’s 63-62 victory over James Madison.

“I was very happy to be out there with my teammates and show that I can able to play more,” said Kearing, who had played a total of six minutes in the Jaguars’ previous five Sun Belt games. “… It was tough being without a good scorer and defender like Kevin Samuel. I was able to play with confidence and get through that tiredness.”

Center Jordan Brown — the Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year — had a big game for Louisiana, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Williams added 19 for the Ragin’ Cajuns, including four made 3-pointers.

Joe Charles was the only other player in double figures for Louisiana with 13 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns shot 57.4% from the field, and attempted 17 free throws to just five for South Alabama.

“I can’t say enough about Marshall Kearing,” Riley said. “He showed up today and really performed. He played his tail off. … He showed up against the best player in this league (Brown) and battled him. I was proud of our other young guys, they gave us great minutes, made some big plays and big shots.”

South Alabama is back in action Thursday at Southern Miss. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg.