W. Kentucky 72, Louisiana-Lafayette 49

Jan 17, 2013, 11:00 pm

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Brandon Harris scored 16 points to lead four Western Kentucky players in double figures in a 72-49 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday night.

Western Kentucky (11-8, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) ended a three-game losing streak with devastating runs at the end of the first half and the start of the second.

Trailing 21-19 with 5:16 left before halftime, Western Kentucky outscored the Ragin' Cajuns (7-13, 3-6) 12-0 the rest of the way until intermission. The Hilltoppers then opened the second half with a 14-2 run that included three baskets by George Fant.

Fant finished with 10 points, and T.J. Price and Teeng Akol had 13 each for the Hilltoppers, who outrebounded the Ragin' Cajuns 49-31 and shot 42.1 percent (24 of 57) while holding them to 28.8 percent (17 of 59).

Elfrid Payton scored 14 points for Louisiana-Lafayette, and Shawn Long grabbed 14 rebounds to go with 11 points.