Feb. 13, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech never trailed after the first five minutes as they defeated Hawai'i 66-60 on Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center.
LA Tech improved to 20-5 overall and move into a tie with New Mexico State for second place in the Western Athletic Conference with an 8-3 record. Hawai'i fell to 9-15 overall and 2-9 in the WAC.
"We knew from the last time we played Hawai'i that it would be a tough, physical game," Tech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "We had a lot of missed shots, but we kept battling and found a way to get a win."
Both teams had free throw struggles as Tech shot 51.7 percent (15-29) and UH shot 50 percent (12-24). The Bulldogs shot just 39.7 percent (23-58) from the field while the Rainbow Warriors shot 43.1 percent (22-51).
"We missed a lot of free throws which had been a plus for us earlier this season," Rupp said. "We've got to do a much better job at the free throw line."
Senior Kyle Gibson led Tech in scoring with 15 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the free throw line. He was just 2-of-13 from the field.
Three other Bulldogs joined Gibson in double-figure scoring as senior Magnum Rolle had 12 to go with seven rebounds and senior Jamel Guyton added 11 points. Junior DeAndre Brown had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Freshman Darius Redding added six points and three rebounds off the bench while playing a season-high 21 minutes.
"Darius came in and did a great job of driving the gaps and getting to the rim," Rupp said.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an 18-8 lead and led 33-27 at half. Rolle played just seven minutes due to foul trouble and Gibson connected on his first field goal with a minute remaining, shooting just 1-for-8 in the half.
After building their largest lead of 11 six minutes into the half, LA Tech had just a 51-49 lead with 5:40 remaining after a UH's Hiram Thompson hit a three-pointer. The Rainbow Warriors never took the lead as Tech improved to 10-1 at home.
Thompson led three UH players in double figures with 14 points.
The 66 points scored by Tech was the second-lowest amount scored in a win this season.
LA Tech will next be in action on Wednesday at 10 p.m. CT at Utah State before playing at Northeastern at noon CT on Saturday Feb. 20. Both games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
