RUSTON, La. — In a hard-fought matchup, Evan Bullock showcased his passing skills by throwing for 248 yards and connecting with Solo Lewis for a 48-yard touchdown, leading Louisiana Tech to a 14-10 victory over UTEP on Tuesday night.

With this win, Louisiana Tech improved its record to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Conference USA, further extending its dominance in the rivalry by winning 11 of the last 12 matchups against UTEP (1-7, 1-4). UTEP was hoping to secure its first win in Ruston in two decades but fell short once again.

Entering the final quarter, Louisiana Tech found itself trailing 10-7. However, the team executed a crucial 11-play, 97-yard offensive drive to take the lead. Starting with a 32-yard pass from Bullock to Jimmy Holiday, the offense continued to build momentum. Tru Edwards contributed with a notable 12-yard catch in heavy traffic, setting up a first-and-goal situation. Amani Givens then capped off the drive by scoring from one yard out with 6:28 remaining in the game.

UTEP attempted to respond and began its last drive from the 31-yard line with 2:33 on the clock after Kam Thomas made a 21-yard punt return. A pivotal moment occurred when Kory Chapman appeared to come up short on a fourth-and-10 play; however, the officials initially ruled it a first down. This led to an official review with just 1:44 left in the game, resulting in the call being overturned. This crucial decision gave Louisiana Tech the ball back, sealing their victory.

Despite their win, Louisiana Tech struggled with their running game, finishing with a mere seven yards on the ground. Jimmy Holiday was a standout for the offense, recording six receptions for 93 yards.

On the UTEP side, the situation became challenging when starting quarterback Skyler Locklear exited due to a hard hit by Zach Zimos, who was subsequently ejected for targeting. Freshman JP Pickles took over, rushing for 53 yards on 12 carries and making two pass attempts.

In a positive note for UTEP, Jevon Jackson continued his strong performance as a rusher, recording 112 yards on 22 carries. This marked the third consecutive game for UTEP where they featured a 100-yard rusher.