SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Kenneth Lofton, Jr. tallied a game-high 31 points and corralled 14 rebounds to carry Louisiana Tech to a 78-75 win over Santa Clara men's basketball in a nonconference game on Saturday.
The 6-foot-7, 275 pound Lofton Jr. shouldered the load for the Bulldogs to score the last eight points from the field for Louisiana Tech (6-2), all coming inside the paint. His layup with 1:43 remaining in the game put the Bulldogs up for good at 70-68 after the Broncos made a comeback erasing a 10 point lead.
Miguel Tomley provided a spark off the bench for SCU to score a season-high 12 points. His and-1 conversion with three seconds remaining in the game got the Broncos within a point, 76-75, but Amorie Archibald knocked down two free throws for the final margin of victory.
Keshawn Justice's 3-point attempt at the buzzer which would have tied the game was contested heavily by Lofton and missed the mark.
Jalen Williams once again paced Santa Clara (6-3) with 28 points while Justice added 18 points. Parker Braun had a team-high 12 rebounds and five assists to go along with eight points.
Santa Clara stayed within striking distance throughout the second half but Louisiana Tech had an answer each time the Broncos got close. The Broncos tied the game three times in the final three minutes but Archibald and Lofton responded with layups each time to keep the Broncos at bay and did not allow SCU to take the in the second half.
In the opening half, Santa Clara led by as many as eight points but went cold from the field, missing 12-straight shots at one point. Louisiana Tech took advantage with a 10-0 run to take a 22-18 lead with Lofton scoring seven of those points.
The Bulldogs maintained the lead for the rest of the half building a 31-23 advantage before the Broncos cut it to a just a one point deficit, 33-32, at the half.
NOTES
- Parker Braun's 12 rebounds was his second double-digit effort of the season.
NEXT UP
- The Broncos will face Mount Saint Mary's at home on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
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