Nov. 18, 2008

Box Score

GRAMBLING, La. -- It may have been the first time the two teams played, but Louisiana Tech (2-0) and Grambling State (0-1) looked like old rivals Tuesday night after it took overtime to decide the Bulldogs the 80-74 victors in front of 4,217 fans in the Assembly Center.

"I thought we got off to a good start, but then we lost focus and intensity," Tech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "We gave up too many second and third opportunities. I think the world of (Grambling head coach) Rick Duckett. He did a great job tonight."

After going to overtime tied 66-66, the Bulldogs put together a 12-1 run over four minutes in overtime to all but seal the deal for Tech after outscoring Grambling 14-8 in the final stanza.

In the first half, the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 14-6 lead with 10:18 on the clock in the first half. The Tigers responded, however, and outscored the Bulldogs 26-17 in the first half to take a 32-31 lead into the halftime locker room. Junior Jamel Guyton finished the half with 12 points on 4-4 shooting from the three-point line.

The Bulldogs answered in the second half and led by as many as seven points in the second half before Grambling State came back to tie the ball game and send it to overtime.

Juniors Kyle Gibson and Kenny Cooper both finished the night with 22 points apiece. Cooper also finished with a double-double after tallying 11 rebounds. Junior Magnum Rolle also tallied a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds for the night.

Guyton finished the game totaling 14 points.

"This is not a habit we want to keep," Rupp added about playing close games. "We need to find out who we are. It's all about focus and intensity for us, and we'll make sure it gets better."

Tech returns to action Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. to take on the UALR Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock. The game will be broadcast on KPCH 99.3 and Fox 92.7 FM locally.