Ruston, La.-----Justin Graham had one of his best games of the season scoring 15 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and getting credit for 3 steals, but Louisiana Tech scored the game's first 15 points in a 71-64 victory over San Jose State in a Western Athletic Conference men's basketball contest.

            Adrian Oliver led all players with a hard-earned 22 points as the Spartans (12-10, 5-5 WAC) lost their second in a row to a team ahead of them in the standings. Louisiana Tech (19-4, 7-2 WAC) moved back into a first-place tie with Utah State and avenged an 87-76 San Jose State win two weeks ago.

"Justin played a phenomenal game. He did a great job of setting the tone for us with his defense and got us out on the break, made some nice plays and attacked the rim," said the San Jose State coach. Graham also was effective defensively as the Spartans used him to double-team the Louisiana Tech player with the basketball when it went into the post.

Still, that was not enough as Louisiana Tech moved back into first-place tie with Utah State in the WAC standings.

"They definitely played differently than they did in San Jose. They slowed the game down more. It was a serious adjustment by their team," said San Jose State coach George Nessman. The Bulldogs also had their leading scorer, Kyle Gibson, chip in with 18 points and some tough defense in 38 minutes of action on Oliver. In the game in San Jose, Gibson was in foul trouble in the first half and played just 24 minutes with Oliver going on to score a career-high 39 points.

"We came out flat and they came out hot. That's definitely not a good combination for us. It's tough to come back like that, especially when you are on the road," said Graham, who was 6-of-9 from the field.

Center Magnum Rolle led Louisiana Tech in scoring with 20 points. He accounted for nine of the game's first 15 points in the opening 7:23. Two Oliver free throws finally got San Jose State on the scoreboard.

"We got off to a good start. We had defensive focus and defensive energy and we sustained that energy as long as we could," said Louisiana Tech coach Kerry Rupp.

San Jose State opened the game with its bigger lineup of C.J. Webster and Chris Oakes, but played its four-guard lineup the entire second half. The Spartans shot 42.4 percent from the field for the game after missing their first nine shots and were just 3-of-14 from three-point range. In San Jose State's last two games, the Spartans are 10-of-37 from three-point range after ranking seventh nationally in three-point shooting at 41.4 percent as recently as January 29.

"If we don't make 3's, we're hard pressed to win. We were 3-for-14. We need to make three's. That's been a theme for us all year. The looks we took we re open. We just didn't make them. That is one of the things we have to do," says Nessman.

The Spartans closed their early deficit with transition baskets, drives inside and did a better job of limiting Louisiana Tech to one shot. By halftime, Louisiana Tech's lead was 34-26. A 10-0 Bulldog run early in the second half fueled by two baskets each by Gibson and Rolle gave Louisiana Tech a 46-32 advantage, but San Jose State retaliated with a pair of Robert Owens 3-point baskets and a C.J. Webster lay-up to trail 50-47 with 9:26 remaining. A Jamel Guyton 3-point basket ended the Spartans' run and Louisiana Tech never let the Spartans get closer than four points the rest of the way.

"We made too many mental errors. We had 17 turnovers. Five or six of them were unforced in the second half - out on the break and stuff. You've got to complete those plays," Nessman added.

San Jose State returns to action, Saturday, February 6, at New Mexico State. Game time is 7:00 p.m. (MST).