RUSTON – Louisiana Tech could not overcome a cold shooting night as the Bulldogs suffered a 72-63 loss to New Mexico State on Wednesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
In a one-point game with about 10 minutes to go, LA Tech (12-10, 5-6 CUSA) struggled to find any offensive rhythm, making just three of its final 16 field-goal attempts. Adding to the woes were five of the team's 11 missed free throws during that stretch.
 
NM State (11-11, 4-8 CUSA) took full advantage, first using a 9-2 run to create separation. Then, by making plays during crunch time – in particular Jemel Jones, who scored his team's last nine points – as the Aggies pulled away. Jones finished with a game-high 26 points.
 
The Aggies jumped on the Bulldogs early, building a 14-5 advantage just six minutes into the contest. LA Tech then responded with its best stretch of basketball, going on a 15-2 run to take a 20-15 lead. Scooter Williams was a big reason for the spurt, draining one of his season-high five triples while also throwing down an alley-oop slam.
 
LA Tech held a 32-31 edge at halftime, but NM State slowly created separation in the second half, pushing its lead to seven before Williams brought the Bulldogs back into the game. Following a four-point stretch that included a three-pointer and a free throw, LA Tech trimmed the deficit to 50-49 with 9:30 remaining.
 
The Bulldogs again leaned on Williams to stay within striking distance, as he knocked down another three to make the deficit just four at 61-57. Will Allen, who scored a career-high 10 points, sank one of two free throws to make it a one-possession game with 2:54 to play.
 
However, that would be as close as LA Tech would get, as the Bulldogs suffered just their second home loss of the season.
 
LA Tech shot 34.4 percent from the field (21-of-61), 25.9 percent from three-point range (7-of-27), and 56.0 percent from the free-throw line (14-of-25). Williams led the Bulldogs with 22 points.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the loss…
"New Mexico State is a tough, physical team.  We rebounded the ball well, but in the end, I thought we were too selfish.  We tried to get ours, turned the ball over way too much.  When you do not shoot the ball well and you miss 11 free throws, you do not give yourself a chance to win in these tough, tight games.  Between the turnovers, the missed free throws, and not being able to get stops down the stretch, it makes it tough."
 
On the team's rebounding…
"We got 20 points and 14 boards from the forward position.  You cannot really ask for much more than that from your big men.  But, when your two starting guards go 5-for-23 and 0-for-10 from three, it makes it hard to win games.  When the bigs are playing that well, we must get them the ball more."
 
On the second half offensively…
"I thought it was just too much selfishness.  We did not advance the ball.  You could tell New Mexico State made a great effort to push in transition to try to get us before we got settled into the halfcourt.  We did not do the same.  We had to play against a tough halfcourt defense, and we did not get much out of it."
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails New Mexico State in the all-time series, 19-6.  The Bulldogs have lost three straight to the Aggies.
• LA Tech fell to 11-2 at home this season.
• The Bulldogs suffered their first loss this season when leading at halftime (led 32-31).  Coming into the game, LA Tech was 9-0 in such contests.
• The Bulldogs pulled down 41 rebounds, marking the 10th time this season they have recorded 40+ boards in a single game. 
• LA Tech tallied 22 offensive rebounds, the second most in a single game this season behind only the 23 they had against Jackson State (10th time this season with 15+).  It was the most offensive boards ever by the Bulldogs in a CUSA game.
• LA Tech had more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds for the first time since March 14, 2014, versus Southern Miss.
• Scooter Williams recorded his third 20+ scoring performance with a team-high 22 points.  In doing so, he made a season-high five three-pointers.
• Will Allen came off the bench to notch a career-high 10 points.
• Jaylen Fenner pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs (second time this season he has led LA Tech on the boards).
• AJ Bates dished out a game-high five assists, marking the 13th time this season the sophomore has had at least five dimes in a single game.  He now has 170 career assists as a Bulldog.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will look to get revenge on Sam Houston as the two tangle on Saturday in the TAC.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
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