Boxscore

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs dropped a one-point heartbreaker 69-68 to Yale to open their 2005-06 season at the John Thompson Classic in Lincoln, Neb. tonight.

Tech (0-1) led by as much as 15 in the first half and 11 at 48-37 with 16:25 remaining in the second half, but Yale?s (1-0) persistence and hot shooting in the second half continuously nipped away at Tech?s lead and eventually led to the victory.

Tech head coach Keith Richard?s teams have now dropped six-straight season openers, as he was disappointed in his team?s finish in tonight?s game.

?Our skill level was not good,? Richard said. ?We had 18 turnovers, and our free throw shooting was horrible. I?m kind of surprised we only lost by one. But to hold your opponent to 40 percent shooting says a lot for your defense. We played our hearts out as far as effort, but when you shoot 3-14 on three-pointers and 5-17 on free throws, you?re not going to beat anybody.?

As was a continuous battle last season for the Bulldogs, Tech shot only 29.4 percent from the free throw line compared to Yale?s 69.4 percent, connecting on 25-36.

Junior forward Paul Millsap led Tech with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but the Grambling native fouled out of the game with the Bulldogs nursing only a one-point lead at 60-59 with 4:23 remaining in the game.

Yale scored the next five points and then took a 66-62 lead, but senior guard Corey Dean made three-consecutive buckets to put Tech ahead 68-66 with 1:06 to play.

Yale?s Travis Pinick pulled his team within one point on the ensuing possession with a free throw. Then, the Bulldogs let their opportunities slip away.

Senior guard Daevon Haskins missed two free throws, and Dean missed a jumper off of the offensive rebound. Tech grabbed another offensive rebound for a third scoring opportunity but turned the ball over to Yale, who hit two free throws with six seconds remaining to earn the win.

The Bulldogs had the final possession, but junior guard Jerome Richardson?s last second shot misfired.

Following Millsap in double-figure scoring was Dean with 13 points and Harry Disy with 12 points. Haskins led Tech with seven assists and no turnovers.
Sam Kaplan led Yale with 16 points, and Eric Flato and Pinick had 13 points each.

The Bulldogs will have an opportunity to even their record with a match-up against Longwood at 6 p.m. tomorrow. The game can be heard on the radio at KXKZ, 107.5.