Louisiana Tech takes lead early at Arkansas but Hogs outplay Dogs at the end despite support of family and friends

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Louisiana Tech fell to Arkansas 77-63 Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena as freshman guard Raheem Appleby (Jacksonville, Ark) scored 23 points, his third straight 20-point game, on 10-of-22 shooting to pace the Bulldogs.
The defeat ends Tech's three-game winning streak as the Bulldogs fall to 7-6 on the year while the Razorbacks improve to 8-3.
The Bulldogs started out hot from the field making six of their first eight shots as they took a 17-6 lead at the 13:41 mark of the first half.
A jumper from Arkansas' Rashad Madden gave the Razorbacks their first lead of the game but a three-pointer from senior guard Trevor Gaskins (Alpharetta, Ga.) on Tech's next possession gave the Bulldogs a 22-20 advantage.
Tech fell behind 32-29 after a basket and two free throws from Arkansas. A layup from junior guard Brandon Gibson (Marianna, Fla.) cut the Bulldogs deficit to one, 32-31, with 2:17 left in the period
Appleby would score the only two points the rest of the half as Tech was outscored 8-2 to go into halftime down 40-33.
In the second half, the Bulldogs got within three after a layup from senior forward Romario Souza (Mias Gerias, Brazil) that was countered by Arkansas on the other end. A tip-in from Souza cut Tech's deficit back to three-points again, 45-42.
Down seven with 12:36 remaining in the period, Tech went on an 8-2 run over the next 3:08 behind four points from Souza to cut the deficit to 56-55.
A layup from Souza brought the Bulldogs to within two, 61-59, with 8:13 left in the game. That would be as close as Tech would get as the Razorbacks outscored the Bulldogs 16-4 the rest of the way.


Gaskins scored 12 and Souza contributed 10 points in the effort. Sophomore guard Cordarius Johnson (Coushatta, La.) and freshman guard Kenneth Smith (St. Petersburg, Fla.) had a team-high five rebounds apiece. Smith and Souza also had game-highs with three assists and two blocks, respectively.
For the game, Tech shot 38 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Arkansas was led by Ricky Scott with 18 points as B.J. Young and Devonta Abron scored 16 and 10 points, respectively. Madden grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
As a team, the Razorbacks went 31-for-64 from the field and 9-of-11 on free throws.
Louisiana Tech returns to action Dec. 29 in the Thomas Assembly Center at 5 p.m. as they take on Spring Hill College at 5 p.m.