Five players scored in double figures Thursday night as Louisiana Tech pulled away over the game's last 10 minutes in a 74-67 non-conference win over Mississippi State in a matchup of Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss.
Daquan Bracey led the balanced attack with 16 points, while Amorie Archibald scored 15, hitting 5 of 6 free throws in the last two minutes to help put the game away. Kalob Ledoux, Derric Jean and Isaiah Crawford each added 10 points.
Tyson Carter scored a game-high 20 points for Mississippi State (6-2), hitting 5 of 13 3-point attempts. Reggie Perry chipped in 14 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in a good all-around effort, but Mississippi State lost despite making 47.2 percent from the field, including an impressive 11 of 23 on 3-pointers.
Trailing 55-54 after Carter sank two foul shots with 10:14 left in the game, Louisiana Tech (6-2) grabbed the lead for good with 10 straight points. Bracey, Jean and Archibald each drained 3-balls, with Archibald's providing a 64-55 advantage with 6:13 remaining.
The lead reached 10 on two occasions in the final minute. Even though Mississippi State canned a couple of threes to stay in striking distance, Louisiana Tech was able to do just enough at the foul line to seal it.
Mississippi State landed the first punch, roaring out to a 10-2 lead less than 2 1/2 minutes into the game as Perry converted a Louisiana Tech turnover into a bucket. But the visitors reeled it in over the next 6 1/2 minutes, taking their first lead at 18-17 on two free throws by Archibald.
Neither team led by more than three for the half's remainder, swapping the lead back-and forth. There were seven ties in the final 10 minutes of the half, which ended with Louisiana Tech taking momentum and the lead into its locker room.
Bracey played beat-the-buzzer with a 3-pointer as time expired, giving the visitors a 39-36 edge at intermission. Louisiana Tech canned 57.1 percent of its first half shots, going 5 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc and scoring 20 points in the paint.
--Field Level Media
