Jan. 24, 2009
Box Score
BOISE, Idaho -- Louisiana Tech junior Magnum Rolle shot 11-of-11 for a season-high 23-point, 10-rebound performance Saturday against Boise State that unfortunately would not prove enough as the Broncos (14-5; 5-2 WAC) finished with a 58-53 win over the Bulldogs (8-12; 2-5 WAC).
"We you have somebody down, you have to grind them out," Tech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "We have to remember the little things are big things. I'm very proud of the effort, but I'm disappointed we didn't win. We can't lose focus for one second. We have to keep attacking and making the right decisions and take care of the basketball."
Rolle scored Tech's first 10 points over the first six minutes of play on 5-of-5 shooting. After falling behind, junior Kyle Gibson would tie the game for the Bulldogs at 20-20 with a pair of free throws at the 8:52 mark in the first half.
Senior James Loe would give Tech the lead for the first time of the day after hitting the front end of a one-and-one to go up 21-20 with over five minutes to play in the first half.
After holding the Broncos scoreless for over seven minutes, Boise State would retake the lead 23-22 at the 3:02 mark with a three-pointer. The Broncos stayed ahead and took a 25-24 lead into the halftime locker room.
Tech's defense rose to the challenge after holding Boise State to just five points in the final 10 minutes of the half after the Broncos scored 20 points in the first 10 minutes.
Rolle scored Tech's opening points in the second half to take a 26-25 lead, and after Boise reclaimed the lead, junior Jamel Guyton scored his first three of the night with 18:30 to play to lead 29-27. Loe added to the lead with a three of his own on the Bulldogs' ensuing possession for a 32-27 lead. It was all part of a 10-2 run to start the second half of play that gave the Bulldogs a 34-27 lead with over 16 minutes to play.
After Tech took a 38-30 lead, however, the Broncos used an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to tie the game 38-38 with 12:13 to go in the ballgame. Rolle responded by knocking down his eighth shot of the night to quiet the crowd and get the Tech lead back 40-38.
Tech would take another five-point lead 51-46 around the four -minute mark before Boise State pulled back in with a layup by junior Anthony Thomas for a 51-48 score that sparked a 6-0 Bronco run and gave Boise the 52-51 lead with two minutes to play en route to the 58-53 win.
The Bulldogs outshot the Broncos 55 percent to 43 percent for the game.
Rolle's 23 points led all scorers Saturday afternoon while playing just under 40 minutes, while Loe pitched in with 11 points. Ike Okoye led the Broncos with 16 points.
"It was a great job by Rolle," Rupp said. "He worked his tail off this afternoon and made things happen on both ends of the floor."
The Bulldogs return home for another televised ballgame Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. against the Hawaii Warriors. Hawaii bested Tech by one-point 65-64 earlier this month on the island after the Bulldogs had rallied back in the finals minutes from an early double-digit deficit. The game will be broadcast live on Cox Sports TV local channel 26, while KXKZ 107.5 FM will handle the radio broadcast with an audio feed available on the internet at www.z1075fm.com.
