Box Score Box Score

RUSTON, La. – A strong defensive effort was the key in Louisiana Tech's 61-57 victory over Hawaii, Saturday afternoon, at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Rainbow Warriors saw their five-game win streak come to an end as they dropped to 20-4, 11-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.

In their previous meeting in January, UH raced out to an early 20-point lead and held on as they defeated the Bulldogs, 81-61 at the Stan Sheriff Center. But in Saturday's contest, the outcome was decided by the team's defenses. The teams combined to shoot nearly 40 percent from the floor, and just 8-of-31 from 3-point range.

Predrag Savovic led the 'Bows with 22 points, his sixth consecutive 20-point game. Carl English had 18 points and six rebounds, as UH's modest three-game road win streak came to an end. As a team, the 'Bows shot just 37.5 percent from the floor, including 7-of-21 from long range.

Guard Gerrod Henderson had a team-high 20 points for the Bulldogs (15-7, 9-3), who won its sixth consecutive WAC game. Zach Johnson came off the bench to for a 15-point and 10-rebound performance. The Bulldogs out-rebounded UH, 40 to 31 and out-scored the 'Bows, 18 to 8 at the charity stripe.

UH jumped out to a 17-7 lead, nearly 12:00 into the game. After the Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to close to within one, the 'Bows responded with an English jumper and consecutive Savovic buckets, including his second trey, forcing Louisiana Tech head coach Keith Richard to call his third timeout. But moments later, the Bulldogs pulled to within two (24-22) before UH scored the period's final five points to head into the locker room with a 29-24 lead.

At the half, the 'Bows shot 40 percent (10-of-25), while limiting the Bulldogs to 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from the floor. UH also held an advantage at the 3-point arc, connecting on 4-of-8, while the Bulldogs were 0-of-7 from long range.

Hawaii used a 9-4 spurt to open the second half scoring to push its lead back to 10. But after three consecutive English buckets, the Bulldogs went on an 11-0 run, sparked by three straight Antonio Meeking buckets to take a 41-40 lead. When Meeking picked up his fourth foul, Zach Johnson came in and scored seven straight points helping the Bulldogs to a three-point advantage.

Savovic hit his third from long range to tie the score at 45. But the Bulldogs forged ahead on a Darrian Brown bucket and Henderson free throw. With the shot clock winding down on its next possession, Marco Cole hit the team's first 3-pointer of the game to put the Bulldogs ahead 51-45 with 3:25 to play.

Savovic scored UH's next five points to bring the 'Bows to within 55-52 with just over a 1:00 to play. After Louisiana Tech's Michael Wilder missed two free throws, UH had a chance to tie the game but Savovic's 3-point attempt from the top of the key, rimmed out. Hawaii fouled on LTU's next two possessions, resulting in four Bulldog points.

The 'Bows made one last ditch effort, as Savovic hit a runner in the lane and English followed with a long range three to pull UH to within 59-57. But Cole sealed the game with two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining.

Hawaii returns to Honolulu for a two-week, three-game homestand beginning Saturday, Feb. 16 against San Jose State.



-uh-