Nov. 15, 2008

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Junior Jamel Guyton scored 27 of the Bulldogs' 61 in his Bulldog debut to lead Louisiana Tech (1-0) to a season opening victory against UL-Lafayette (0-1) Saturday night by a final score of 61-59 in the Cajundome.

"We knew it would be tough game and we needed to come in here and fight and tough it out," Tech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "The best thing was we hung in there and were resilient and even when we got down we kept fighting. We still have a lot of work ahead of us but at the end of the day, the biggest thing is we come out of here with a win. "

Guyton shot 6-14 from the floor and 11-14 from the free throw line and was the only Bulldog to score in double-digits.

The Bulldogs trailed by 10 points two different times in the second half before rallying back to take a two-point lead with 46 seconds left in the game with a dunk from junior Magnum Rolle to lead 59-57. Tech pulled ahead by four points 19 seconds left on the clock off a pair of Guyton free throws. The Bulldogs would hold on for the win.

The Dunkin' Dawgs trailed 32-26 at the half before outscoring the Cajuns 35-27 in the second half. Tech shot 43.5 percent for the entire game on 20-46 shooting.

Rolle followed Guyton's point total with eight points and nine rebounds, while freshman Olu Ashaolu also finished the night with eight points. Junior Kenneth Cooper added seven points and 11 rebounds for the night.

"Guyton came up with some big shots for us, but he doesn't get them if Kenny Cooper and those other guys don't set big screens," Rupp said. "I thought Magnum showed up big in the second half as well."

The win marks the first time since the 1998-99 season that either Louisiana Tech or ULL have won two consecutive matches after each other. Last season, Tech bested the Cajuns 64-56 in its home opener to give Rupp his first win as the Bulldog head coach.

Tech was without preseason All-WAC junior Kyle Gibson who is scheduled to return Tuesday night when the Bulldogs play GSU.

The Bulldogs return to action on the road against Grambling State Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on KPCH 99.3 FM and Fox 92.7 FM.

"You have to gut it out," Rupp added. "We talked as a staff before the game that this was going to be one of those where we have to muddle through it, hang in there and give ourselves a chance to win on the road. It's exciting for our guys and just one step as we move forward."