Boxscore

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The depth of Louisiana Tech (1-3) proved to be too much for the McNeese Cowboys (1-4) Wednesday night in Burton Coliseum as the Bulldogs finished with a 59-50 victory for their first win of the season.

?We still have a lot of work to do,? Tech head coach Keith Richard said. ?Tonight, the one thing I thought we really got accomplished was our effort. We really responded with toughness. Even in the nine-point victory, I feel like it could have been more if we had finished better.?

Tech struck first in the opening minute on a three-pointer from senior Jerome Richardson. After a McNeese fast-break lay-up, senior Marcus Elliot recorded his first points of the game to give the Bulldogs a 5-2 lead at the 17:03 mark.

The Bulldogs maintained control for the first half of the opening period, and after a pair of free throws from senior Chad McKenzie, Tech led 13-8 with 10:43 on the clock. Tech also added an 8-0 run over the next two minutes for a 21-8 lead with 7:23 left in the half.

The Cowboys answered with an 8-2 run of their own and cut the Bulldog lead to 23-16 with 3:45 on the clock. Senior Harry Disy laid the ball in at 3:23 to extend Tech?s lead to 25-16. McNeese, however, scored five unanswered points before freshman Kyle Gibson made a fast-break lay-up with 1:00 to go in the half to put the score at 27-21, where it would remain at halftime.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 7-3 run to go up 34-24 near the 16-minute mark. Disy added to that lead by knocking down a pair of free throws with 15:35 left to go in the game.

The offense continued for the Bulldogs for the remainder of the night and would give Tech its first win of the season 59-50.

Tech was led by McKenzie and Elliot, who had 13 points apiece. Disy tied his career high in rebounds with 15.

?(Harry) was one of the ones who took the brunt of the film session and he responded to it,? Richard said. ?He really has a lot of heart. That?s how you get better. He was all over the floor tonight.?

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, Nov. 29, against Southern Illinois in the Thomas Assembly Center for Tech?s home opener. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.