Courtesy of LA Tech & GSU Athletic Communications & Staff Reports
Lady Techsters 87, UTEP 48 (Thursday in El Paso)
Jianna Morris ignited a three-point barrage to lead Louisiana Tech to an 87-48 road win over UTEP at the Don Haskins Center.
With Tech (16-5, 9-1) trailing 20-19 with just over four minutes to play in the second quarter, Morris hit three-pointers on three straight possessions to help the Lady Techsters end the half on a 17-2 run to take a 36-22 halftime lead.
After going scoreless in the first half, preseason CUSA Player of the Year Paris Bradley scored 14 second half points as Tech outscored the Miners 51-26 after halftime.
Tech hit 13-of-21 from beyond the arc as Morris was 5-of-7, Lexi Weaver was 4-of-6, and Bradley was 3-of-5 as the Lady Techsters fell one shy of tying the program single game record.
Morris led all scorers with 21 points while Bradley added 14 and Weaver and Joy Madison-Key each scored 12 points.
Tech recorded 22 assists while committing just 10 turnovers. The Miners committed 24 turnovers to help allow the Lady Techsters outscore them 33-8 on points off turnovers.
The win is the ninth straight for Tech which now has a two-game lead in the CUSA standings after both Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston lost Thursday night.
Tech travels to face New Mexico State Saturday.
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New Mexico State 72, Bulldogs 63 (Wednesday in 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.
“New Mexico State is a tough, physical team,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “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.”
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.
“We got 20 points and 14 boards from the forward position,” said Hester. “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.”
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.
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UAPB 67, Tigers 64 (Wednesday in Pine Bluff)
Grambling State came up just short Tuesday night, falling 67-64 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a tightly contested Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
GSU fell to 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the SWAC, while UAPB improved to 9-13 and 6-3 in conference.
Antonio Munoz delivered one of his strongest performances of the season off the bench, leading all scorers with a career-high 26 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. Munoz was a constant presence in the paint, repeatedly finishing through contact and keeping Grambling State within striking distance throughout the night. He also pulled down seven rebounds and went 6-for-7 at the free throw line, accounting for 28 of the Tigers’ 64 points either by scoring or at the stripe.
The contest featured nine ties and three lead changes, with neither team able to build a comfortable margin. Arkansas-Pine Bluff held a slim 32-30 advantage at halftime, despite GSU shooting nearly 45 percent from the field in the opening period.
Grambling struggled from long range early, missing all 11 three-point attempts in the first half, but stayed close behind strong interior play. Munoz scored nine points before the break, including multiple finishes in transition and second-chance opportunities.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff opened the second half with a brief surge to extend its lead, but Munoz helped steady the Tigers with a pair of baskets in the lane and free throws to trim the deficit. Rickey Ballard knocked down a three-pointer midway through the second half to spark a run that cut the lead to two, bringing the home crowd to its feet.
Down the stretch, Munoz continued to shoulder the offensive load. He converted a dunk, a tip-in, and a pair of free throws in the final three minutes, pulling Grambling State within one point at 65-64 with 34 seconds remaining. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff sealed the game at the free throw line in the closing seconds, and GSU’s final three-point attempt came up short.
Roderick Coffee III added 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists for Grambling, while Ballard finished with nine points and two steals. Derrius Ward contributed eight points and six rebounds, and Devyn Franklin grabbed six boards in the loss.
Grambling finished with a 40-35 rebounding edge and outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff 38-30 in the paint, but the Tigers were limited to 3-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc.
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Tigers 74, Alcorn State 50 (Monday in Lorman)
Grambling State turned in a dominant road performance Monday night, rolling past Alcorn State 74-50 at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex to improve to 10-10 overall and 4-3 in SWAC play.
The Tigers set the tone early with efficient shooting and active defense, opening the game on a quick run behind perimeter shooting from Roderick Coffee III and Derrius Ward. After an early back-and-forth stretch, Grambling State began to separate midway through the first half, knocking down three-pointers and capitalizing on turnovers to build momentum.
Jamil Muttilib sparked the Tigers during the opening period, connecting on three triples and helping GSU stretch the lead to double figures. Strong interior play from Antonio Munoz and Randarius Jones added to the surge, while Grambling State’s defense limited Alcorn State to just 32.1 percent shooting in the half. The Tigers closed the opening 20 minutes on a 14-2 run to take a commanding 39-25 advantage into halftime.
GSU continued to control the game after the break, opening the second half with a flurry of baskets in transition and in the paint. Munoz scored six quick points to push the lead past 20, and the Tigers never looked back. Grambling State held ASU scoreless from three-point range in the second half, forcing tough shots and cleaning up the glass to maintain control.
Coffee III led the Tigers with 17 points, adding five assists and knocking down three shots from beyond the arc. Muttilib followed with 15 points, all coming in the first half, while Ward contributed 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Munoz posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, anchoring GSU inside on both ends of the floor.
The Tigers finished the night shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range, while winning the rebounding battle 39-26. Grambling State also tallied 15 assists and forced nine turnovers, turning defense into offense throughout the contest.
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Alcorn State 61, Lady Tigers 58 (Monday in Lorman)
Grambling State put together a strong opening quarter and battled throughout, but a late push by Alcorn State proved decisive as the Tigers fell 61–58 in Southwestern Athletic Conference action Monday evening inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
Grambling State came out firing in the first quarter, shooting 37 percent from the field and knocking down four three-pointers to take a 25–20 advantage after one.
The momentum shifted in the second period as the Tigers struggled offensively managing just eight points while Alcorn State edged ahead to carry a 30–33 deficit into halftime.
Alcorn State continued to build momentum out of the break, outscoring Grambling 20–6 in the third quarter to open up a seven-point cushion heading into the final frame.
The Tigers mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 points and cutting the deficit to one in the closing moments. Alcorn State held on down the stretch to secure the three-point victory.
Monica Marsh led Grambling State with a game-high 19 points connecting on four three-pointers while adding two steals. Shaniah Nunn recorded a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Arianna Mosley chipped in 14 points. Douthshine Prien provided a spark off the bench, finishing with six assists and four points.
Grambling State shot 31.9 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Alcorn State was paced by Nakia Cheatham, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
