Louisiana Tech uses big 2nd-half run to beat Ole Recede out in NIT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Freshman Kenneth Lofton Jr. scored a season-high 22 points with seven rebounds and Louisiana Tech beat short-handed Mississippi 70-61 on Friday night in the main spherical of the NIT Tournament.

Louisiana Tech (22-7) will play Western Kentucky on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Lofton scored 11 points in the main 10: 13 of the 2d half to spark Louisiana Tech’s 22-4 run for a 49-41 lead. The Bulldogs scored 15 straight points during the run, opened and closed by Lofton. Ole Recede out began the half 2 of 13 from the field.

Neither crew made a field goal in the final two minutes with Louisiana Tech making 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Amorie Archibald scored all 14 of his points in the 2d half, and he added seven assists for Louisiana Tech. Kalob Ledoux added 10 points and Cobe Williams, with a broken finger on his left hand, scored eight points.

Jarkel Joiner led Ole Recede out (16-12) with 22 points. Luis Rodriguez scored all 10 of his points in the main half.

Joiner sank a 3-pointer correct ahead of the halftime buzzer to lengthen Mississippi’s lead to 37-27. He had 11 points in the half and Rodriguez grabbed seven rebounds because the Rebels held a 23-13 again on the glass. Ole Recede out changed into once behind 18-8 ahead of Joiner scored five points during 12-2 run to tie it.

Mississippi changed into once with out Devontae Shuler, the SEC’s energetic chief in occupation steals (185) and occupation assists (329), due to household reasons, and KJ Buffen, who entered the switch protocol.

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