CHARLOTTE – Louisiana Tech played well enough defensively to give themselves a chance to win its first conference road game of the season. 
 
However, the Bulldogs struggled mightily on offense and ended up falling 55-40 to Charlotte on Saturday afternoon inside Halton Arena.
 
Defensive goal No. 1 for LA Tech (13-7, 3-4 C-USA) was limited the 49ers Jon Davis who came in averaging a league-best 21 points per game (26 in league games).  He scored nine points, just the second time this season he was held to single digits.  
 
Goal No. 2 was limiting Charlotte (5-12, 2-4 C-USA) from three-point range as the 49ers came in shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in conference action.  They made 6-of-20 for 30 percent.   
 
On the flipside though, the Bulldogs could not get anything going offensively as they connected for just 15 total field goals with only one made three-pointer. 
 
"Everything that we tried to do defensively, we did," head coach Eric Konkol said.  "I thought we played really hard.  Even with our offensive struggles, we continued to stay with it.  Our shooting woes really led to some frustration and guys wanting it so badly.  We have to take a look at our offense and be able to find different ways to score."
 
That first and only three-pointer did not come until the first offensive possession of the second half as JaColby Pemberton nailed one from the corner to tie the game up at 23-23. 
 
Charlotte would go on a 9-0 run though from there, forcing a LA Tech timeout with 16:16 to go in the game.  At that point, the 'Dogs found their only offensive rhythm of the game by making five straight field goals with three of those coming from Mubarak Muhammed. 
 
Following the small offensive spurt, LA Tech was down only four at 37-33 with 12:41 still to play.  But the Bulldogs were only able to make one more field goal for the remainder of the contest and the 49ers gradually increased their lead the rest of the way.
 
"I think guys are a little hesitant right now," Konkol said.  "We have good players that can shoot the basketball.  We have guys that can make shots.  We just have to find that rhythm, be able to get off to a good start.  It starts with practice on Monday."
 
The team shot 28 percent from the field, led by DaQuan Bracey who finished with 13 points (scored first seven points of the game).  Muhammed joined him in double figures with 10 points to go along with a team-high nine rebounds, a stat shared by Pemberton who also had nine boards.
 
Charlotte ended up shooting 44 percent from the field (18-41).  They also just had two players score in double figures – Cooper Robb with 12 and Malik Martin with 10.
 
LA Tech returns home for its next matchup which comes against Marshall on Thursday, Jan. 24.  The game will be nationally-televised on CBS Sports Network and will tipoff at 8 p.m.
 
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