Men drop road game in double overtime

Staff Reports

Fresno State’s Shantay Legans made a buzzer-beating lay-up to force a second overtime, but Fresno State fell behind and couldn’t come back in the double-overtime loss to Louisiana Tech.

Legans had 26 points and teammate Marcus West had 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to beat Louisiana Tech, as Fresno State lost 80-75 on Thursday in Ruston, La.

Freshman Paul Millsap, the nation’s leading rebounder, led Louisiana Tech with 19 points and 16 rebounds. JueMichael Young scored 15 for Louisiana Tech. Wayne Powell scored 13 and had 11 rebounds.

Jack Marlow pitched in a season-high 12 points for Fresno State, which shot better than Louisiana Tech from the 3-point and free throw lines. Fresno State shot 43.8 percent from outside, compared to a 23.8 percent showing by Louisiana Tech. Fresno State’s free throw shooting was 71.4 percent, while Louisiana Tech’s was 65.7.

Terry Pettis, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer this season, scored two points in 14 minutes of play. It was the second game in a row in which Pettis scored in single digits, after he had recorded at least 10 points in 10 straight games since his Dec. 23 return to the team from a suspension.

Fresno State jumped out to a six-point halftime lead.

Louisiana Tech outscored Fresno State 15-10 in the second overtime to take the win.

Fresno State was outrebounded 53-45 by Louisiana Tech. The two teams led the Western Athletic Conference in rebounding margin in conference games at plus-7.4 coming in to Thursday’s game.

The loss drops Fresno State to 10-9 (6-4 WAC) and puts the Bulldogs in a tie with Nevada for third in the WAC.