ESTERO, Fla. (AP) -- Raheem Appleby scored 23 points to lead Louisiana Tech to a 76-72 win over St. Bonaventure in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase Wednesday.
Louisiana Tech (5-1) took a 34-33 lead to halftime, but St. Bonaventure (5-2) responded after the break, hitting 6 of 7 to open the second half on its way to a 47-42 lead.
The Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run to erase the short-lived deficit. The two teams traded buckets until the 5:32 mark.
With the score tied at 60, Appleby drilled a 3-pointer on one possession and got a dunk on the next. Appleby's three-point play with 1:01 left would cap off a 12-3 run, giving Louisiana Tech a 72-63 lead and the win.
Alex Hamilton added 15 points for the Bulldogs.
Charlon Kloof led the Bonnies with a career-high 24 points while Matthew Wright added 20.
Appleby was named tournament MVP.
