RUSTON, La. – The Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University gave Louisiana Tech all it could handle Tuesday before the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed 96-80.
 
Jordan Evans came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points for Valley. Torico Simmons added a career-high 17 points for MVSU; it was Simmons' first game in a Valley uniform in which he scored in double-figures.
 
Simmons and Tereke Eckwood each handed out four assists. Dante Scott scored nine points for Valley.
 
DaQuan Bracey scored a game-high 24 points to lead six players in double-figures for the Bulldogs, who improved their season record to 8-3.
 
Valley kept pace with its hosts throughout the first half, as the Bulldogs managed only a 39-34 halftime lead. The visiting Delta Devils shot 43 percent (13 of 30) in the first half.
 
The visitors upped their shooting to 48 percent (15 of 31) in the second half, but that was countered with a 57-point half from Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs shot 64 percent (18 of 28) from the floor after halftime to pull away from their guests.
 
The Delta Devils return to action Thursday when they visit Santa Clara. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, 9 p.m. in Mississippi.