Boxscore

RUSTON -- The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-6) were bested Wednesday night by the Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-3) in front of the sixth largest crowd in the Thomas Assembly Center (7,087) 66-59.

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, Tech stirred the home crowd up with a second half rally that saw the Dunkin? Dawgs get within one point with 3:15 left to go in the ballgame and against with 1:56 on the clock.

?We?re getting better,? Tech head coach Keith Richard said. ?We?re not quite there yet. Some time soon, I think we can turn the corner and win some games like these.?

The Bulldogs? showed offensive woes in the first half but found scoring in true freshman Kyle Gibson. Gibson finished the night with 14 first-half points including three three-pointers.

?We?ve struggled offensively this year, and it?s light-years ahead of where it was in the first half of the Southern Illinois game,? Richard said of his team?s play since the 12-point performance in the first half against the Salukis. ?It is better. As we continue to improve in that area, I think was can do some good and decent things.?

After trailing 33-27 in the first half, the Bulldogs kept the game close for the second half before giving up late points to Bob Knight?s Raiders to finish the game 66-59. Coach Knight is now tied with Adolph Rupp for second place all-time in career wins with 876.

Gibson?s 14 led the scoring for the Bulldogs. Senior Chad McKenzie added nine points and five rebounds. Texas Tech senior and Monroe, La., native Jarrius Jackson finished with 21 points on the night.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday in the TAC against the Southern Jaguars.

?I have some good kids on this team,? Richard said. ?Any time we emphasize something, they work hard on it. We?re certainly closing the gap.?