Boxscore

Arkansas took control late in the first half as the Razorbacks went on to take a 68-56 win over Louisiana Tech Wednesday before a crowd of 13,229 at Bud Walton Arena.

The loss dropped Tech to 3-3 on the season while Arkansas moved to 6-1.

Things started slow with both teams going to a "feeling out" process to determine what to expect from the other. The game remained scoreless for more than 2:30 before Jonathan Modica's layup at the 17:11 mark of the first half gave the Razorbacks a 2-0 advantage.

Tech was able to grab a lead early on, going on top on back-to-back 3-pointers from Donell Allick to put the Bulldogs up 8-7.

Wayne Powell helped give the Bulldogs their second lead of the night on back-to-back baskets on a layup followed by six-foot jumper to put Tech up 23-20 with 6:00 remaining in the first half.

But the Bulldogs went cold from there with Arkansas going on a 23-2 run to end the first half to take a 43-25 lead at intermission. Powell scored all three of Tech's final shots from the floor in the half, finally ending the Bulldogs' scoreless spree when he hit an 11-foot jumper to cut Arkansas' advantage to 36-25 with 1:42 left before halftime.

Arkansas would add seven points before the halftime horn sounded, scoring a pair of those baskets off of Jonathan Modica steals.

Both teams hit on 50 percent of their first-half shots, with Tech going 11-of-22 from the floor and Arkansas connecting on 17-of-34 attempts. Turnovers played a big difference in the opening period, with Arkansas scoring 18 points off of 13 Tech miscues. The Bulldogs managed only four points off of five Arkansas turnovers in the first half.

Tech turned the ball over 21 times in the contest.

"Turnovers were the story of the game," Tech coach Keith Richard said. "We had 13 turnovers at half that led to 18 Arkansas points. You can't beat a good team like that."

Fouls played a big role early in the contest, with Tech guards Corey Dean and
Bruce Edwards picking up two fouls each in the first 5:30 of the contest. The Bulldogs committed their seventh foul of the first half and sent Arkansas into the bonus situation at the free-throw line 9:25 into the opening stanza.

Tech ended up hitting on 41.5 percent of its shots (22-53) in the contest while the Razorbacks hit on 43.9 percent (25-57). Arkansas scored 27 of its points off of Tech's 21 total turnovers.

"We've got to get better at holding on to the ball," Richard said. "I'd love to know how many points they scored off of our turnovers during that bad stretch at the end of the first half."

Allick led the Bulldogs with 15 points while Powell chipped in with 10 points. Forward Paul Millsap topped Tech rebounders with 13 boards while adding nine points and five blocked shots.

Modica led Arkansas 22 points while Ronnie Brewer added 14 for the Hogs.

Tech returns to the courts on Saturday when the Bulldogs play host to Touglaoo at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Assembly Center.