RUSTON, La. -- Louisiana Tech
utilized a strong second half performance to defeat ULM 68-52 Saturday at the
Thomas Assembly Center. The Bulldogs used
a 21-0 run - spanning eight minutes - midway through the second half to build a
23-point advantage and cruise to its fifth straight victory.
"I thought Louisiana Tech wore us down (in the second half), ULM head
coach Keith Richard said. "The constant harassment and the constant
pressure over the course of time finally wore us down and helped them
build up a pretty big lead."
Sophomore guard Trent Mackey came off the bench and netted a
career-high 17 points to lead the Warhawks (0-2). Mackey finished 6 of 11 from
the field and 3 of 5 from 3-point range to surpass his previous career high of
13 points, set twice last season.
Junior guard R.J. McCray and junior forward Jayon James each finished
with 10 points and four assists. Junior
guard Amos Olatayo finished with a game-high nine rebounds to go along with
seven points and three steals.
Leading 36-34 early in the second half, Louisiana Tech (5-1) used a
strong defensive effort during a 21-0 run that stretched the lead to 57-34 with
10:28 remaining. The Bulldogs used their quickness to force 13 steals and 21
turnovers in the game. ULM's 21 miscues were the most in a game since Nov. 16,
2010, when it had 26 against Iowa.
The Warhawks trailed by as many as 23, but battled back to within as
close as 63-51 with 4:20 to play. ULM had the ball on two occasions to cut into
the lead even more, but Olatayo missed on 3-pointers on both trips. Mackey carried
the Warhawk offense in the second half as he accounted for 11 of the team's 24
points in the half.
ULM led for much of first half after sprinting out to an early 8-2
advantage. The Warhawks led by as many as seven (17-10) midway through the
opening half before Louisiana Tech went on a 7-0 spurt to tie the game.
The Bulldogs closed the half on a 9-1 run, including a tip-in off a
missed free throw by Cordarius Johnson with three seconds remaining in the half
to take a 36-28 lead at the break.
Johnson finished with a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds to lead
the Bulldogs, while Raheem Appleby tallied 13 of his 18 points in the first
half.
ULM opens both the home and Sun Belt season on Thursday (Nov. 29) against Western Kentucky at 7:30 p.m.
