Nov. 21, 2009
Box Score
Complete Release in PDF Format 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After playing the entire first half close, Louisiana Tech couldn't stop New Mexico's hot shooting in the second half and fell to the Lobos 81-52 on Saturday.
UNM (4-0) shot 64 percent from the field in the second half compared to just 30 percent for Tech. The Bulldogs (2-1) were 5-of-27 from three-point range and were outscored 38-24 in the second half after trailing by just five at halftime.
"In the first half they were letting us play and our guys have to step up," said head coach Kerry Rupp. "The brought their physical toughness in the first half. We can't live by the three we have to have an inside presence."
Junior Olu Ashaolu recorded his third-straight double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Seniors Kyle Gibson and Jamel Guyton each scored 11 points and Guyton added four steals, the only takeaways for Tech.
"I thought they did a great job of pressuring our guards," Rupp said. "They are very athletic and very deep. We shot way too many threes. We've got to tighten up some things. We gave up way too many offensive rebounds."
The game was back-and-forth early until a 7-0 run by the Lobos put them on top 14-9. However, the Bulldogs then went on a 9-0 run capped off by a Darius Redding three-pointer. They led 18-14 with 8:38 remaining in the half.
Redding nailed another three-pointer to give Tech a 27-23 lead with 2:45 left in the period. However, the Lobos closed the half with a 10-1 run as the Bulldogs went into the half down 33-28.
There were 11 lead changes and seven ties in the half. Senior Magnum Rolle picked up two early fouls and played just eight minutes in the half. Both teams had their troubles shooting as New Mexico shot 34 percent and LA Tech just 29 percent.
The Lobos improved their shooting immensely as they opened up to a 45-34 lead five minutes into the half. New Mexico's Darington Hobson hit a three-point shot, three of his game-high 30 points to give the Lobos a 51-39 advantage with 13 minutes left in the game.
UNM then went on a 12-1 run and Tech went on a field goal drought that spanned over seven minutes. They trailed 64-44 until Guyton hit back-to-back three-point shots as the Bulldogs were behind by 14 with 5:43 remaining. However, the Lobos went on a 17-2 run, capped off by a Nate Garth lay-up to end the game with its biggest lead, 81-52.
LA Tech continues play in the World Vision Classic with a game against Nicholls State on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. The Colonels are 0-4 after losing to New Mexico on Friday and Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.
"We've got to get our guys to turn around and regroup," Rupp said. "Nichols is a very competitive team and they are from the state of Louisiana so that makes it extra competitive."
