Tech wins Thriller

A quartet of Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech entered the rivalry game against ULM averaging double digit scoring. It took all 40 minutes though for them to get their firs win in ULM's Fant-Ewing Coliseum since the 1988-89 season with a 76 - 73 victory.

Warhawk Lawrence Gilbert hit a three pointer with 15 seconds remaining to tie the game at 73, but Bulldog Kyle Gibson connected on a trey of his own for the victory with just one second remaining. "I just tried to get it out of my hands as fast as I could while still keeping my form," Gibson said of his game winning shot.

The names for the Bulldog foursome that scored in double figures changed slightly, as foul troubles kept Magnum Rolle from his usual average of 11.5 points, but picking up his slack was DeAndre Brown, who surpassed his 7.3 average with a 16 point performance. Rolle would finish the game with a season high 13 rebounds.

"We just play the game, and whatever comes, comes, and I just take whatever is there; tonight my shots were there," Hooper said of his hot shooting performance.

ULM opened the game with a new starting line-up as Head Coach Orlando Early opted for the juco transfer Fabio Ribeiro over usual starter Rudy Turner. The change looked to payoff early on as the Warhawks built a 13-9 lead. Leading the charge was fifth year senior Tony Hooper. Hooper was lethal from beyond the three point line, connecting on five first half threes, ending the first half with 17 of his season high 23 points, while setting a new career high with six three pointers.

Before the half was over, Louisiana Tech would build a seven point lead, but freshman Colby Carr hit a layup just as time expired to cut the LTU lead 39-34 at the intermission.

Louisiana Tech would build an 11 point lead in the second half, but the 15 points and season high nine rebounds by transfer Tommie Sykes helped chip away at the lead until it was a mere one point with just over one minute remaining.

The Warhawks will now hit the road for a series of four straight road games beginning with a trip to Alabama on Saturday at noon.