HOUSTON ? Louisiana Tech produced its best offensive effort of the season but an apparent three pointer in the closing seconds by Bruce Edwards was ruled a deuce as Tech fell to Rice, 93-92.

Michael Wilder led Tech with 26 points, a career high.

The officials had a brief conference after time expired and ruled the Edwards basket a two-pointer, ending the game. Two officials put their arms up ruling a three pointer during game action and for no apparent reason changed their minds after time expired.

"I thought one of the officials backed off his call," Tech head coach Keith Richard said.

The Bulldogs (5-8, 2-5 WAC) scored on a Zach Johnson with 55.3 seconds remaining to cut the Rice lead to 91-90 in the game. Michael Harris knocked down a turn around bank shot as the shot clock expired on the other end to give the Owls a 93-90 advantage with 21.7 remaining.

Tech shot 54.2% in the game while the Owls shot 62.7% in the contest.


"Our guards played much better and I was proud the way they played tonight," Richard added. "They played hard and competed tonight."

A steal by Lavelle Felton and dunk with 7:50 remaining tied the score at 78-78. The dunk capped a Bulldog rally from a ten point deficit earlier in the half.

The Bulldogs took their first lead since the opening moments in the second half on a ten footer by Darrian Brown with 6:26 remaining in the game.
Felton scored 19 points in the contest for the Bulldogs.

Antonio Meeking fouled out with 11:35 remaining in the contest after scoring six points. Meeking was whistled for several mysterious fouls on the defensive end of the court during the game. Darrian Brown fouled out with 1:56 to go after scoring 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

The first half was played at a frantic pace as the Bulldogs took a 50-49 lead at halftime. Tech shot 54 percent in the opening 20 minutes while the Owls (12-5, 4-3 WAC) shot a blistering 61% in the first half. The largest lead both teams had was six points. Rice held an early six point lead while Tech led by six points several times during the first 20 minutes of action. Tech did head to halftime in foul trouble with three players picking up three fouls in the first half.
Wilder scored 14 of Tech?s first 17 points in the game as he poured in 18 in the first 2o minutes. The 50 points are the most Tech has scored in a half this season.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday night when Tech begins a five-game home stand against Boise State at 7:00 p.m.