Staff Reports
Louisiana Tech used a strong second half to cruise past LSU-Alexandria 77-50 Monday night in the season opener for the Bulldogs at the Thomas Assembly Center.
After leading just 30-26 at halftime, Tech outscored the NAIA No. 12-ranked Generals 47-24 over the final 20 minutes of play before 2,050 fans.
Transfers Kaden Cooper (Oklahoma), Will Jeffress (Pittsburgh) and Amaree Abram (Georgia Tech) combined to score 40 points and grab 30 rebounds in their Bulldog debut as Tech saw five players in double figures in the win.
Cooper led Tech with 17 points and nine rebounds while Daniel Batcho scored 15 points and pulled down eight boards. Abram scored 13 points, Devin Ree added 11 points and Jeffress chipped in with 10 points.
Sean Newman and freshman AJ Bates combined to record 13 assists while committing just two turnovers.
LSU-Alexandria (2-0), which already posted a win over DI Lamar last week, came out of the gates strong behind NAIA All-American Kashie Natt, who scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the opening 10 minutes of play.
Simsboro High product Jakemin Abney’s layup with 11:31 to play in the first half gave LSU-Alexandria a 17-9 lead, its biggest of the game.
However, the Bulldogs turned up the defensive pressure, allowing just nine points over the final 11 minutes of the first half while Ree came off the Tech bench to ignite them offensively by hitting three three-pointers.
The second half was all Bulldogs. Tech hit 52 percent (16-31) of its field goals, including 5-of-12 from the three-point line while holding LSU-Alexandria to just 29 percent (8-28) over the final 20 minutes of action.
Tech will travel to face UT-Arlington Saturday at 5 p.m.
