RUSTON, LA ---The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated South Carolina State 53-24 after a four-and-one-half hour delay due to bad weather conditions – rain and lightning Saturday (Sept.10) at Joe Aillet Stadium.

The game originally scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT)/ 7 p.m. (EST), didn't officially kickoff until 10 p.m. (CT)/11 p.m. (EST).

Redshirt senior quarterback Ryan Higgins threw for a personal best 34-of-52 for 409 yards and four touchdowns to lead LA Tech.

Louisiana Tech scored early on a 47-yard field goal by Jonathan Barnes with 9:21 remaining in the first quarter. A costly error by SC State awarded LA Tech a safety and push the lead to 5-0 at the 9:11 mark. LA Tech's redshirt senior quarterback Ryan Higgins 24-yard pass to junior wide receiver Marcus Gaines gave the Bulldogs a 12-0 lead late in the first quarter at the 7:06 mark.

Redshirt freshman running back Bishop Ford scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 6-yard punch early in the second quarter (13:09). LA Tech responded on a 6-yard toss from Higgins to senior wide receiver Trent Taylor to put Louisiana Tech ahead 19-7.

Junior kicker Tyler Scandrett closed out the first-half on a 29-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining to cut the lead to nine, 19-10 heading into halftime.

In the second-half LA Tech continued rolling on offense with a pair of touchdown passes of 21-yards and 35-yards from Higgins with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter. A 51-yard run by redshirt junior running back Boston Scott gave Louisiana Tech a commanding 46-10 lead to start the fourth quarter.

SC State got on the board late in the game with a pair of touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Caleb York to Deangelo Frazier (12-yards) and Quan Caldwell (7-yards).

Redshirt junior defensive back Jason Baxter led the charge for SC State on defense with a game-high 10 tackles and a interception. York finished 14-of-31 with 137 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt sophomore wide receiver Lynard Jamison had six catches for 60 yards.