CONWAY, Ark. _ The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs jumped out to an early double-digit lead and cruised to a 94-57 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Wednesday night at the Farris Center.

The Bulldogs  (2-1) took advantage of early turnovers by the Bears (1-2) and led by as much as 18 points midway through the first half. They settled for a 47-19 advantage at halftime, while shooting 50 percent and forcing 13 UCA turnovers. The Bears shot just 7 of 26 (26.9 percent) from the field and were 1 of 7 from three-point range.

"We tried to play some zone early and try to slow the game down,' said UCA head coach Clarence Finley. "but they knocked down dome threes and got it inside so we had get out of it. They got it up to a 16-point lead and we had to play some man and they were just too strong for us.

"And I thought their press gave us some problems. We had a freshman that didn't get in the middle of the zone like we had worked on it and we ended up with 20-something turnovers. They were just  very long and very athletic and we didn't handle the pressure.'

The Bears finished the game with eight three-pointers, from five different players, but finished 21 of 60 (35 percent) from the field overall. Senior guard DeShone McClure led the way with 19 points _ with a pair of three-pointers _ but also had a team-high seven turnovers. Freshman Jalen Jackson chipped in 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The Bears scored 38 points in the second half, shooting 53.8 percent from the field, but the deficit was too large to overcome. UCA hit 7 of 13 from three-point range in the second half, with McClure and Aubrey Ball going 2 for 3 each.

The Bulldogs, the Western Athletic Conference champion a year ago but now a member of Conference USA, shot 26 free throws, making 21 (80.8 percent), while UCA made 7 of 12. Raheem Appleby, a junior from Jacksonville, topped Tech with 21 pionts, while Conway's Kenyon McNeail had 18, including three three-pointers. Kenneth Smith dished out 10 assists for the Bulldogs, who had 21 total. UCA finished with 10 assists.

The Bears will hit the road for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Arkansas State in Jonesboro. Tip-off is 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center. UCA is back home hosting Troy on Tuesday night at 7.