RUSTON, La. (AP) Mike White threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns Thursday night as the Hilltoppers dropped a high-scoring affair against Louisiana Tech 55-52.
Louisiana Tech (5-5, 2-1 Conference USA) led 49-24 in the middle of the third quarter and Jonathan Barnes' career-long 54-yard field goal with 11 minutes left in the game proved enough to withstand Western Kentucky's rally.
Mike White rallied the Hilltoppers (3-3, 1-1) with TD passes of 31, 8 and 11 yards that made it 55-45 with 7:24 left.
Shaquille Johnson blocked a punt and Kylen Towner recovered and scored to pull WKU within three with 5:02 left. The Hilltoppers forced a punt, but Louisiana Tech's Aaron Brown strip-sacked White on the next play to secure the win.
Ryan Higgins passed for 454 yards and five touchdowns, while Carlos Henderson had eight catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns for Louisiana Tech.