Louisiana Tech beats Middle Tennessee 73-63

RUSTON, La. (AP) Erik McCree scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and Louisiana Tech beat Middle Tennessee 73-63 on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (18-6, 7-4 Conference USA) have won five of six. Dayon Griffin and Jacobi Boykins scored 14 points apiece, Alex Hamilton had 12 points with 11 assists, and Merrill Holden added 12. Louisiana Tech shot over 54 percent despite hitting just 4 of 17 from beyond the arc.

Middle Tennessee (17-7, 9-3) was led by Darnell Harris with 20 points. Reggie Upshaw had 13 points, 12 boards and six assists.

Louisiana Tech used a 13-6 run at the start of the second half - including a 3-pointer by Griffin - to build a 10-point lead. The Bulldogs pushed it to 17 a little later following a nine-point spurt, capped by another Griffin 3.

Middle Tennessee got it to seven with 1:15 left on Harris' 3-pointer, but missed its last four shots.