STATESBORO, Ga. – DJ Dudley came off the bench to score a season-high 26 points, but Louisiana Tech was not able to string together enough defensive stops in what resulted in a 77-69 road loss to Georgia Southern on Wednesday night inside the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.
 
Rebounding and defense had been a recipe for LA Tech (4-3) so far this season.  And despite shooting 50.0 percent from the field, the Bulldogs struggled to stop Tavarus Webb who went for 32 points.  LA Tech also got beat on the glass for the first time since the season opener, getting outrebounded 32-29 while giving up 12 second-chance points. 
 
The first half was nothing but a game of runs.  Georgia Southern (5-5) had the first one, scoring nine straight to go up 9-2 early.  Then it was the Bulldogs turn with a 14-2 burst – capped by the first of four three-pointers from Dudley – to build a 16-11 lead with 8:31 to go in the first half.
 
The 'Dogs then got stuck on 16 points for five minutes, allowing the Eagles to counter with a 14-0 run themselves.  Trailing by as much as 13, LA Tech found some late life on offense to close the gap to a 33-27 halftime deficit.
 
A driving layup by AJ Bates and an old-fashioned three-point play by Will Jeffress quickly got the Bulldogs to within one with 18:50 still to play, but that was as close as they would get, chasing the Eagles from behind the rest of the contest.
 
LA Tech shot a blistering 63.0 percent in the second stanza, recording 42 points.  On the opposite end though, Georgia Southern was not far behind at 58.6 percent as Webb and the Eagles kept the Bulldogs at bay. 
 
Dudley was 10-of-17 from the field, scoring 17 of his 26 points in the second half.  That stretch was better for Bates too who had seven of his nine dimes in the second 20 minutes of action.  Sir Issac Herron had another solid game as well, tallying 10 points. 
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the loss…
"We were so undisciplined tonight.  We were not in gap help.  We fell for every shot fake.  We did not play like the bigger team.  We must learn how to win road games.  We cannot be a team that is front runners at home and then we go on the road and show a lack of toughness.  I do not think we did a good job of taking our scouting report to the game." 
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now leads the all-time series over Georgia Southern, 4-2.
• The Bulldogs shot exactly 50.0 percent from the field versus the Eagles, marking the third straight game they have eclipsed the 50.0 percent mark.
• The LA Tech bench scored in bunches again with 57 points, a season high.  They have now scored 50+ points in three of the first seven games this season. 
• LA Tech limited Georgia Southern to 27.3 percent from three-point range.  Not a single opponent this season has shot over 30.0 percent from beyond the arc.
• DJ Dudley scored a season-high 26 points, going 10-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from downtown.  The 10 made field goals set a new career high for the junior while the four made triples tied his career high.
• Sir Issac Herron scored in double figures for a third straight game, going 5-of-6 from the field.  The graduate senior has shot over 80.0 percent in all three contests.
• AJ Bates tied his career high with nine assists.  It is the most assists by a Bulldog this season.
• Will Jeffress anchored the Bulldogs in rebounding with five boards.  It marked the first time this season and the second time as a Bulldog he has been the top rebounder.

UP NEXT
LA Tech is back in action Sunday, Dec. 7 to face Ecclesia College inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
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