RALEIGH, N.C. – Despite a monster performance from Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech was not able to overcome a slow start and timely shooting by NC State as the Bulldogs fell, 90-81, in a high-scoring affair on Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena.
 
Junior was flat-out unstoppable against the ACC opponent, going for a career-high 36 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as well as a team-high four assists.  The power forward did a bunch of his damage in the second half, recording 23 points and 12 boards in the stanza.
 
It was the start of the game that doomed LA Tech (4-2) though as too many turnovers helped NC State jump out to an early lead.  It was Jericole Hellems (finished with 31 points) putting up big numbers for the Wolfpack, sinking four three-pointers to guide the home team to a 30-15 lead with 9:30 to go in the first half.
 
The Bulldogs clawed back, getting to within four at 35-31 after one of Junior's 14 made fields with 2:46 to go before the break. However, the Wolfpack did what they did all day and that was hit tough, timely shots as soon as the 'Dogs were close to tying or taking the lead.
 
NC State (5-1) held a 41-33 halftime edge and extended it to 12 early in the second stanza.  LA Tech got it to within six points on three different occasions, but could never get over the hump as NC State hit 11 three-pointers (came in averaging just six made threes a game).
 
Kaleb Stewart was the only other Bulldog in double-figures as the true freshman scored a career-high 10 points.  
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Eric Konkol
 
"There are some times you can do everything right, and the guy still makes a shot.  We forced a number of mid-range jump shots.  That is what we really wanted to do and NC State made a lot of contested big ones.  On the flipside, I thought we gave them some early looks that made them comfortable.  And we did not take care of the basketball well enough.  We needed to keep the turnover margin closer."
 
"Junior was dominant by the basket.  They gave him a lot of one-on-one coverage and he was able to take advantage of it." 
 
NOTABLES

• With the 90-81 loss, LA Tech is now 0-2 all-time against NC State. The loss snapped the Bulldogs four-game winning streak.
• The Bulldogs scored 80+ points for the fourth straight game.
• The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field marking the third straight game shooting at least 49 percent as a team.
• Kenneth Lofton, Jr. set career highs in points (36), rebounds (18) and assists (four).He is the first Bulldog since Erik McCree (2017) to register 30+ points.
• It was the fourth straight double-double for Kenneth Lofton, Jr.He is the first Bulldog since Erik McCree in 2016 to accomplish this.
• Lofton, Jr. is the first Bulldog since Erik McCree (2016) to record 30+ points and 15+ rebounds in a single game.
• Lofton, Jr.'s 18 rebounds was the most ever by an opposing player in PNC arena.It was the first time a Bulldog recorded at least 15 rebounds since Mo Muhammed (2020).
• Kaleb Stewart registered a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
• LaDamien Bradford tallied a career-high seven points.

UP NEXT
LA Tech is back inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Wednesday, Dec. 1 to take on Texas Southern.  The matchup will tip at 6:30 p.m. and be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
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