Boxscore The Auburn Tigers had no answer for
Paul Millsap but Louisiana Tech could not overcome 17 turnovers and a hot shooting Auburn team as the Bulldogs dropped a 79-67 road contest on Saturday afternoon at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
Millsap continued to show why he is one the top players in the country with a career-high 31 points while pulling down 17 rebounds. The sophomore was 12-of-18 from the field and made 7-of-11 from the foul line.
?He is a great one and I wish and hope that we can get some better play around him and put some wins on the board to show for his effort,? said Tech head coach Keith Richard.
However, it was not enough on the road on Saturday.
Auburn?s Ian Young was on fire from 3-point range with 22 points, including 5-of-8 from behind the arc. The Tigers were 9-of-21 for the game from 3-point range.
?It got away from us a few times today, we were playing too quick today but Auburn had something to do with it,? Richard said. ?Each guy has a role on our team and we are not good enough on the perimeter to make the plays that some of the Auburn guards can make.?
The Bulldogs would get no closer than eight points after trailing Auburn 40-30 at the half. Toney Douglas gave the Tigers a 66-50 lead with 9:19 on a three pointer. A transition basket by the Tigers staked Auburn to a 68-50 advantage moments later for its largest lead of the game.
Auburn entered the contest with a 3-0 mark with wins over Temple, Furman and Nicholls State under first year head coach Jeff Lebo.
Corey Dean joined Millsap in a solid contest for Tech with 19 points as the Lincoln Parish duo combined for 50 of Tech?s 67 points. No other Tech player reached double figures.
Tech hit on 40 percent of it shots for the game and the Bulldogs were just 6-of-22 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs outrebounded Auburn 45-35.
Auburn went on an 11-2 run that started midway though the first half that turned a 21-16 Louisiana Tech advantage into a 27-23 lead for the Tigers.
Auburn closed the first half strong while outscoring the Bulldogs 11-4 the final 3:39 of the period to take a 40-30 lead at intermission.
Millsap reached his 23rd career double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tech shot 38% in the opening 20 minutes while the Tigers hit on 44% of their shots. The Bulldogs committed 11 first half turnovers and out-rebounded Auburn 23-17.
The Bulldogs will continue their road trip on Monday when Tech takes on 2003 NCAA Tournament participant Alabama-Birmingham at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs will play their home opener next Saturday against Texas-San Antonio at 4 p.m.
