RUSTON, La. >> Hawaii opened the Western Athletic Conference schedule with a 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech today at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Hawaii quarterback Greg Alexander, the nation’s leader in total offense entering the game, was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter with a sprained left knee and was replaced by Bryant Moniz. Alexander passed for 199 yards before suffering the injury.

LaTech running back Daniel Porter powered the LaTech ground game with 160 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Bulldogs improved to 2-2.

LaTech rushed for 352 yards.

UH returns to Honolulu tomorrow at 2-2 after being held without a touchdown for the first time since 2004.

UH’s first possession ended with a 36-yard field goal by Scott Enos. LaTech responded with a 72-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by Porter, who had 98 yards in the first half.

After an interception by Deon Young, the Bulldogs held the ball for 17 plays, taking 6:26 off the clock and extended the lead with a 28-yard field goal by Matt Nelson.

Alexander went 6-for-6 on the ensuing drive and UH had first-and-goal at the 2 on a completion to Kealoha Pilares. But two running plays up the middle produced a 1-yard gain and a pass on third down was incomplete, and Enos made an 18-yard kick.

Alexander’s first pass of the second  half was batted by Adrian Logan and intercepted by lineman Kwame Jordan at the UH 26. Porter converted the turnover into his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard plunge giving LaTech a 17-6 lead at the 12:02 mark of the third quarter.

LaTech added a 6-yard touchdown run by Myke Compton and a 26-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-6.