By KYLE ROBERTS

Associate Sports Editor

Basketball is in full swing for Keith Richard's 2004-05 "Dunkin' Dawgs."

And, given the competition, the 2-3 record is a good start.

"We've played some outstanding competition," Richard said. "We've played some really good people, and we've only had one home game."

The Bulldogs traveled on the road for their four opening games beginning with the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulane University in the LSU Tournament in Baton Rouge.

Then Tech headed east for contests with Auburn and the University of Alabama-Birmingham before finally coming home to face the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. The combined record of their opponents was 17-11.

"We've had an early difficult non-conference schedule," Richard said. "While we'd like to be 5-0, we've done some good things that I like to this point."

The Bulldogs brought home a tough win Dec. 4 in the Thomas Assembly Center against UTSA 73-64. The Bulldogs shot 47.7 percent for the game and forced 23 Roadrunner turnovers.

"I told the team after the game that I was pleased with the win because they grinded out this game," Richard said. "We really didn't shoot the ball that well, but we were taking good shots. They just weren't falling."

Senior guard Corey Dean led the Bulldogs in scoring with 17 points while grabbing six rebounds.

Junior guard Daevon Haskins followed with 14 points and six assists, while sophomore Paul Millsap and senior forward Wayne Powell added 12 points apiece.

The UTSA game was the first at home for the Bulldogs this year after finishing a four-game road streak.

The Bulldogs came up short five days earlier in Birmingham, Ala., against the Blazers in a hard fought battle 66-54.

Tech led at halftime 34-31, but the Blazers were able to outscore the Bulldogs 35-20 in the second half.

Millsap recorded another double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Powell added with 13 points of his own in the losing contest.

The UAB loss was the second in a row after losing to the Auburn Tigers 79-67 on Nov. 27 in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in front of a crowd of 2,713.

Millsap scored a career high 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to prove he is one of the best players in the country. Dean followed with 19 points in the contest.

Tech opened its season at the LSU Tournament on Nov. 19 with a loss against ULL's Ragin' Cajuns in the first round 84-63 to end up in a consolation game with Tulane.

Millsap scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to be the only Tech player in double figures.

The Bulldogs bounced back and were able to crash the Green Wave from Tulane 69-66 to finish third in the tournament.

Millsap repeated his performance for 25 points and 14 boards, while senior guard Donell Allick added 14 points and Dean and Powell added 12 and 10, respectively.