Boykins, McCree lead Louisiana Tech over UTEP 78-70

RUSTON, La. (AP) Jacobi Boykins matched a career-best with 18 points, and Erik McCree added 14 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to lead Louisiana Tech to a 78-70 victory over UTEP on Sunday.

Louisiana Tech (16-5, 5-3 Conference USA) had five score in double figures, and has won three straight.

Dominic Artis had 23 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and four steals to lead UTEP (11-11, 3-6), which shot 51 percent from the field but had 23 turnovers.

It was tied at 47 when Boykins made a pair of free throws to spark a 16-7 spurt to give the Bulldogs a 63-54 lead with eight minutes left. McCree scored eight points and had three defensive boards during the stretch.

The Miners pulled within 70-66 with 1:45 left. Alex Hamilton made a layup and two free throws, and Merrill Holden added four from the line to seal it for the Bulldogs.