Feb. 6, 2011

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Senior guard DeAndre Brown scored a game-high 23 points, but the Louisiana Tech men's basketball team lost 72-64 to Fresno State Saturday in front of 9,059 fans at the Save Mart Center.

Tech (11-13, 2-8 Western Athletic Conference) held a 38-26 lead at halftime, but was outscored 46-26 in the second half. A big reason for the turnaround was turnovers of which Tech had eight in the first half, but 13 in the second half to finish with 21. Fresno State (10-12, 5-6 WAC) had just 13 to go with 18 assists.

"I thought the turnovers were the key," head coach Kerry Rupp said. "We didn't get back in transition. We didn't do a good job when they double teamed Olu (Ashaolu). Fresno State out toughed us in the second half."

Fresno State also shot lights out in the second half as it shot 56.5 percent from the field and finished 44.7 percent for the game. Louisiana Tech shot 51.6 percent in the first half, but finished at 41.8 percent for the game.

"Our problem is that we played too quick," Rupp said. "We have to make sure we get good offensive looks. The frustrating thing is that in the second half, we did a lot of things to beat ourselves. We've got to grow up and have a game where we aren't getting out toughed."

Junior forward Olu Ashaolu scored 14 points and freshman guard Kenyon McNeaill had 10 points to join Brown in double figures. Junior forward Antwond Roshell scored five points and had a career-best 10 rebounds.

Tech used a 12-2 run to take a 25-13 lead with 7:27 remaining in the first half. As Tech held for the last shot of the half, Brown drove the lane and with an impressive up and under move, converted the layup with three seconds remaining to give his team a 38-36 lead at halftime.

Fresno State forced eight Tech turnovers in the first seven minutes of the second half and used a 17-6 run to take a 45-44 lead with 12:26 remaining. It was the Bulldogs' first lead since 2-0 advantage in the game's opening minute.

Ashaolu scored his only points of the second half on a one-handed dunk while drawing the foul. He converted on the free throw to tie the game 52-52 with 7:51 to play. Tech was held without a field goal until Brown hit a layup to cut a seven point deficit to five, 64-59 with 2:37 remaining.

Another Brown layup cut the deficit to three with 1:33 remaining, but that was as close as Tech would get as the Bulldogs dropped their fifth-straight road game.

Sophomore center Greg Smith scored 18 points to lead five Bulldogs in double figures.

From the free throw line, Fresno State shot 79.3 percent (23-29) while Louisiana Tech shot 63.2 percent (12-19).

Louisiana Tech will next be in action on Monday at 8 p.m. CT at New Mexico State.