RUSTON, La. » In his 12 games in a Hawaii uniform, quarterback Greg Alexander had taken some big hits and bounced back up each time.

Until last night.

After taking a hard shot from Louisiana Tech linebacker Adrien Cole on a scramble late in the third quarter of UH's 27-6 loss, Alexander stayed on the turf on the Warrior sideline.

Alexander was initially reported as suffering a sprained left knee and he hobbled out of the locker room at Joe Aillet Stadium on crutches with a large brace around his leg. Alexander is scheduled to have an MRI performed on his knee to determine the extent of the injury.

“;I just heard a pop, I don't know what happened,”; Alexander said. “;It happened pretty fast, I think it got stuck in the turf a little bit, I'm not really sure.”;

Alexander entered the game as the nation's leader in total offense, averaging 446 yards through three games, and was second in passing average and fifth in passing efficiency.

“;For a guy who worked that hard and has given so much to the program and fought through a lot of adversity and to finally start having some success and that happens, it's a tough deal,”; UH quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich said.

Since taking over as the starter midway through last season, Alexander's knack for finding running room when plays broke down extended drives on numerous occasions.

He was attempting to do so again with the Warriors trailing 24-6 and facing a third and 10 at the Bulldogs' 42. Alexander took off from the pocket and was approaching the sideline when Cole drilled him.

“;I was just trying to get a little extra yards and probably shouldn't have done that,”; said Alexander, who completed 20 of 34 passes for 199 yards before leaving the game.

Cole was initially flagged for a personal foul, but the officials later waved off the penalty.

“;It was a clean hit,”; Alexander said. “;The guy hit me pretty good. I think my foot just got caught in the turf, but other than that it was a clean play.”;

Alexander's injury forced sophomore Bryant Moniz into the game. Moniz began the season as UH's third-string quarterback, but moved up when Brent Rausch suffered a broken pinkie in a practice leading up to the Warriors' game at Washington State. Moniz completed five of 11 passes for 109 yards.

“;I was just thinking to get ready as fast as I can, tried to warm up and throw a few balls on the side,”; Moniz said. “;When I came in I missed the first pass, but as I got more reps I got more comfortable.”;

Even before the injury, Alexander had taken quite a bit of punishment as Louisiana Tech sacked him five times. The Bulldogs dropped Moniz two more times to post their highest sack total since 2004.

“;I've got to give all the credit to (defensive coordinator) Thomas Spangler,”; LaTech defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith said. “;He put is position to make plays and we came through.”;