Daquan Bracey scored a game-high 26 points to lead three players in double figures and Louisiana Tech used an 18-3 run in the first half to pull away and defeat the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, 77-59, in a men’s non-conference basketball game on Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Isaiah Crawford added 13 points and Amorie Archibald 12 as Louisiana Tech (7-3) built a 44-29 lead at halftime while holding Louisiana (5-5) to 20-for-61 (32.8 percent) from the floor and 4-for-21 from behind the 3-point line.
Louisiana took an 8-7 lead on Jalen Johnson’s 3-pointer with 17:28 remaining in the first half and 20-19 on a bucket by Dou Gueye at the 12:35 mark. That would be the last lead for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who would go without a field goal for the next 7:35 while the Bulldogs would go on a 13-1 run.
Bracey, who finished 10-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-7 from behind the 3-point line, sank a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs with 5:23 remaining for a 32-21 lead before Derric Jean followed with a 3-pointer on the next possession.
Louisiana closed to within 61-46 on Mylik Wilson’s basket with 8:20 remaining, but the Ragin’ Cajuns would go cold from the floor for the next 5:07, missing their next 10 attempts from the floor until a bucket by Johnson with 3:13 remaining.
Mo Muhammad pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who held a 48-35 advantage on the glass while holding a 15-0 cushion in second chance points during the first half.
Johnson and Cedric Russell scored 13 points each to lead Louisiana with Gueye adding 10. Johnson pulled down nine rebounds for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Wilson tying a season-high with four steals.
Louisiana will return to action on Wednesday when it opens Sun Belt Conference play at Arkansas State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game being streamed live on ESPN+.