Dillard outscores Tougaloo in the second half for a 6-point win

NEW ORLEANS– Dillard erased a 12-point halftime deficit with a 57-point second half to rally past Tougaloo, 85–79, Thursday night at Dent Hall.

Tougaloo controlled the first 20 minutes behind Antonio Patterson, who lived at the foul line and powered the Bulldogs to a 40–28 lead at the break. Patterson finished with a game-high 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 10-of-12 free throws, adding six rebounds. Jagger Young was efficient (13 points on 5-of-7), and Tyler Hudson chipped in 10 points and five assists as Tougaloo shot 45.3% for the game and earned 35 free-throw attempts.

Dillard flipped the game after halftime by turning up the pace, getting balanced scoring, and hitting timely threes. The Bleu Devils shot 10-of-26 from deep (38.5%) and outscored Tougaloo by 18 in the second half (57–39). Devin Lewis led the comeback off the bench with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Miles Williams added 17 points and knocked down 3-of-5 from three. Mason Carpenter provided another spark with 11 points, including three made threes, and Tyler Wiley helped steady the offense with five assists.

The difference came down to second-half shot volume and perimeter production: Dillard attempted 63 field goals to Tougaloo's 53 and made five more threes (10 to 5). Tougaloo's advantage at the stripe (26 makes to Dillard's 19) wasn't enough to offset Dillard's surge, as the Bleu Devils closed the night with the lead and improved to 10–7 (7–2). Tougaloo fell to 10–9 (5–4).

Notes: Tougaloo was assessed two technical fouls (Willie Anderson and a team technical). Attendance was 156.

-Bleu Devils-