LA Tech falls to UNCG in neutral site contest

NEWARK, Delaware – Louisiana Tech’s inability to make shots was too much to overcome as they fell 80-73 to UNC Greensboro on Saturday night in the Delaware Invitational inside the Bob Carpenter Center.

The score seesawed for the first eight minutes of play. However, UNCG (6-1) grabbed the lead at that point and LA Tech (4-2) was never able to regain it despite being within one possession on numerous occasions.

“You have to give UNC Greensboro credit,” head coach Eric Konkol said. “They are experienced and have a lot of guys that have won a lot of games. In those critical moments, that type of experience can put you in a position to make that next key play. They made two threes right as we were knocking on the door. We needed a key stop, a key basket, and in the critical times we did not get either.”

The Bulldogs really struggled making jump shots and making free throws. They were only 5-of-23 from beyond the arc, two of those coming in desperation time with less than 75 seconds left, and only made 10 of their 19 free throw attempts.

Despite only making two triples and three free throw shots in the first half, LA Tech found itself down just six to UNCG at 35-29 at the midway point.

The ‘Dogs immediately got back-to-back layups from sophomore Anthony Duruji and junior Oliver Powell to get to within two. Then the Spartans’ star player Francis Alonso responded with a jumper.

Duruji came down and connected on another layup. Then Alonso countered with a three-point play.

This would be the theme throughout the rest of the second half.

LA Tech clawed back into it, getting to within two at 50-48 on a running floater off the glass from junior DaQuan Bracey with 12:09 still to play. UNCG scored a layup on its next possession.

The same scenario happened three minutes later as Bracey made a tough layup which he was fouled on to slice the deficit down to two yet again at 54-52. UNCG then went on a 6-0 mini-run to extend its lead to eight.

The Spartans built as much as an 11-point lead, the largest deficit this season for the Bulldogs, at 71-60 with 2:09 still to go.

But there was no quit in the Bulldogs, getting two late three-pointers from sophomore Exavian Christon to get to within five with 18 seconds remaining. After forcing a turnover on the in-bounds, Christon had a couple of highly-contested threes to get to within two yet again, but both were off the mark.

“This mimics conference play for us,” Konkol said. “We have one day to prepare to get ready for the next one. I want us to respond in away where we realize there are things we can control to do better. Let’s focus in on those things like rebounding the basketball. We can do more to control that. We have to refocus and learn from this game.”

Despite early foul trouble, Christon finished with a team-high 15 points (fifth double-digit scoring performance). Duruji followed with 14 while Powell and Amorie Archibald each had 13. Powell also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

As a team, LA Tech shot 44 percent from the field for 44 percent. They were also 22 percent from beyond the arc and 53 percent from the foul line.

UNCG went 28-of-52 from the field (54 percent) and 8-of-20 from deep (40 percent). The Spartans had four players in double figures, led by Alonso and Isaiah Miller who each registered 16 points.

Next up for LA Tech is a meeting with the Delaware Blue Hens on Monday, Nov. 26. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.

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