Feb. 21, 2009
Box Score
MURRAY, Ky. -- The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (12-16; 4-9 WAC) used good shooting and hustle to down the Murray State Racers (15-11; 10-5 OVC) Saturday in non-conference action by a final score of 69-60 in the Regional Special Events Center in front of a crowd of 2526 MSU fans.
"It's always nice to go back home with a win," Tech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "That was a very hard fought game against a very good opponent. This team plays very good at home, and we got a good one today. Our kids stepped up and played 40 good minutes and found a way to win today."
With the game still scoreless, freshman Olu Ashaolu sacrificed his body while retrieving a loose ball and ended up in the first row of fans after hurdling a scorers' table. After he picked himself up, junior Kyle Gibson found Ashaolu nearly by himself under the basket for a coast-to-coast pass to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 early. Ashaolu would score Tech's first four points of the afternoon.
After falling behind 20-12 in the first half, Tech would use a 7-0 run to pull back within one point at 20-19 with 7:16 to play in the first half. Tech would finally tie the game again with 1:20 to play in the first half with a turnaround one-hander by junior Magnum Rolle at 28-28. A pair of free throws by Rolle on the Bulldogs' ensuing possession would give Tech a late first half lead of 30-28 with a little over one minute to play before halftime.
The Racers would run four straight points off before Rolle hit a three-pointer at the end of the first half to give Tech a 33-32 lead going into halftime. Rolle finished with 13 first half points, while Gibson totaled 10 in the first stanza.
MSU opened the second half with a pair of three-pointers to take a 38-33 lead in the first two minutes. Tech would again tie the game 40-40 less than two minutes later with a three-pointer by junior Jamel Guyton for his first points of the game.
Tech retook the lead with a 6-0 run capped off when Ashaolu threw down a pair of thunderous dunks in succession over the next couple of minutes for a 46-42 lead that would end up sending the Bulldogs to the 69-60 win.
"It took us a while to get the lead stretched out," Rupp said. "We'd get the lead, and then they'd come back and hit some threes. They do a great job of executing their stuff, and we had to get down and defend long into the possession. Overall, I was pleased with our defensive effort."
Rolle's 25 points and 11 rebounds led the Bulldogs to victory while Gibson and Ashaolu both scored 16 points apiece. Isacc Miles and Tyler Holloway both scored 14 points for the Racers.
Tech returns home for the final two home regular season games of the year beginning with the New Mexico State Aggies Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Assembly Center. The game will be broadcast live on KXKZ 107.5 FM locally with a live audio feed also available at www.z1075fm.com.
A video feed can also be purchased for $4.99 by logging onto www.latechtv.com and clicking on the athletics link on the top right portion of the page. Fans can order the game starting one hour prior to tip off.
