Nov. 13, 2015 Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
LA Tech vs. Millsaps box 
LA Tech season stats
RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech used an overpowering 26-0 run in the first half to crush Millsaps College, 95-33, in the 2015-16 regular season opener on Friday night in front of 3,513 fans inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
The 33 points were the fewest allowed ever by LA Tech (1-0) in TAC history while the 62-point margin of victory was the fifth biggest win in program history.
The Bulldogs also continued their winning ways at home, extending the home winning streak to 31 in what was Eric Konkol's first victory as head coach.
"I thought that we got better as the game went on," Konkol said. "There were some jitters early and I have said a lot, we have some new guys playing minutes in this environment for the first time. I thought as the first half went on, we improved in our press, offensively and man-to-man. I was happy with the performance.
"There was a time in that first half where we got into a nice rhythm on both ends of the floor. We started to create some turnovers and turned them into some good opportunities in transition. That started a flow. I credit the guys for staying locked in defensively."
LA Tech started out going 4-of-8 from the field, including two wing three-pointers by Erik McCree, to grab an early 10-4 lead. However, the `Dogs would follow that up with a 1-of-9 shooting effort to lead by only five with 11:54 to go in the first stanza.
After the media timeout, it was a run of epic proportions by the home team who held Millsaps scoreless over the next seven-plus minutes and went on a 26-0 run.
Everyone got in on the action, including redshirt freshman Branden Sheppard with two offensive putbacks and true freshman Derric Jean who had back-to-back thunderous dunks.
Then there was the savvy senior, Alex Hamilton, who helped make it a 47-9 run by tallying a double-double at intermission for a lopsided 60-15 advantage.
The preseason All-Conference USA selection finished with 14 points, a career-high 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
The other preseason All-CUSA selection, McCree, reeled in a game-high 17 points.
Joining the two veterans in double figures were Qiydar Davis (15), Jean (14), Sheppard (12) and Dayon Griffin (10).
As a team, the Bulldogs shot 37-of-74 for exactly 50 percent. On defense, they outrebounded Millsaps, 51-36, and had a plus-10 turnover margin by forcing 21.
The Majors were held in check to just 22 percent shooting (13-59). They were led in scoring by Quinn Atkinson who finished with eight.
Next up for LA Tech is a home matchup against UT Arlington on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
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