RUSTON, La. – Every time ULM had a run to get back in the game, Louisiana Tech had the answer Monday night, as the Bulldogs used an 8-0 run in the final minutes to pick up a 79-58 win over ULM at the Thomas Assembly Center.
 
Tyreke Locure scored a game-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and two assists to pace ULM. Devon Hancock added 13 points (4-of-9 3-point attempts) off the bench while Jamari Blackmon had 10 points and six assists. Isaiah Crawford led five Louisiana Tech players in double figures with 17 points.
 
After Hancock hit a 3-pointer to bring ULM within one, 11-10, with 13:11 remaining in the half, LA Tech went on a 16-3 run, picking up treys from Terran Williams, Keaston Willis and Quandre Bullock, to pull away for the 27-13 lead with 5:54 to play before halftime.
 
ULM had an answer, going on a quick 11-0 run in 2:19. Victor Bafutto started the run with a basket at the 5:25 mark. Savion Gallion followed with two free throws and Nika Metskhvarishvili hit a 3-pointer. After Metskhvarishvili knocked down an elbow jumper, Locure stole the inbounds pass and laid the ball back in to get within three, 27-24, with 3:35 remaining in the half.
 
However, LA Tech scored the next six points to push the lead back to nine, 33-24, and led by 10 at halftime, 35-25.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the second half to extend the lead to 15, 40-25. ULM closed within nine again on a layup by Blackmon with 17:03 to go. LA Tech responded with layup by Crawford to lead by 11, 42-31, with 16:45 to play in the game. ULM did not get within single digits again.
 
LA Tech's 8-0 run extended the lead to 17, 48-31. ULM's last gasp came moments later. After Blackmon nailed a 3-pointer, Locure bagged a triple to get within 11, 48-37. On the next trip down the floor, Metskhvarishvili had a layup rattle halfway down the rim and then pop back out. Instead, LA Tech slowly rebuilt the lead, not leading by more than 20 points until the final bucket of the night, which stretched the lead to 21.
 
ULM shot 36% from the field (20-of-55) and 41% from 3-point range (11-of-27). LA Tech shot 47.4% (27-of-57) with 35% 3-point shooting finished at 89.5% free throw shooting.
 
The Warhawks head to Niceville, Florida, for the Emerald Coast Classic, squaring off with Omaha at 1:30 p.m. Friday.