(Photograph by Donny Crowe of Tech’s DaQuan Bracey in familiar territory — by the rim.)

RUSTON — Marshall’s Thundering Herd led for just 47 seconds against Louisiana Tech Thursday night in the Thomas Assembly Center, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, most of those seconds were in the final minute when Tech found itself down by a point with 55 seconds left and down by 2 with only 12 seconds left.

The Bulldogs (14-7, 4-4 C-USA) had an answer both times, then outscored the Herd (12-8, 5-2) in overtime 17-8 to win it, 89-80.

It was Tech’s frenetic guard DaQuan Bracey, who equaled his career high in scoring with 25 points, who tied it up in regulation with five seconds to go. After the Herd’s Jannson Williams hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to give the visitors a 72-70 lead, Bracey went coast-to-coast on one of those drives that drive you crazy, one of those “Don’t do that! Oh … good!” drives when he’s in traffic and battling toward the hoop.

“The only thing that was going through my mind was get to the basket,” said the basketball-ambidextrous Bracey. “Don’t waste any time and get there as soon as possible just in case I do miss so that we could maybe get another opportunity with a rebound.”

Great but … how does he make those?

“Been battling as a small guy his whole life,” said Tech coach Eric Konkol said of his 5-11 guard. “He’s used to it.”

The junior from Baltimore added two big steals in OT that led to points.

For all Tech’s end-of-game and OT heroics, it was defense that won the game. Usually is.

The Bulldogs held the Herd to 26 points in the first half — their lowest first-half output of the year — and held star Herd guard Jon Elmore — he’s currently tied for the program lead in both career three-pointers and assists — to only 8 points, only the third time this season he’s scored less than double digits.

It was more subtle if you weren’t paying attention, but Tech’s JaColby Pemberton had just as big of a game as Dancey; he earned his third double-double of the season with a career-high 18 points and 11 boards.

Get on over to Thomas Assembly Center Saturday when the Bulldogs play league preseason favorite Western Kentucky, winners at Southern Miss Thursday night,  at 4 p.m.

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