LOUISIANA TECH 2023-24 BULLDOG BASKETBALL GAME 18 MATCHUP
GAMEDAY INFO DATE/TIME: Sunday, Jan. 14 | 2 p.m. CT LOCATION: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.) SERIES HISTORY: First Meeting STREAK: N/A LAST MEETING: N/A MEDIA: ESPN2 TALENT: David Saltzman (pxp), John Williams (analyst) RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app TALENT: Malcolm Butler (pxp), Jack Thigpen (analyst) STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
2023-24 SCHEDULE
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGs (11-6, 1-1 cusa) Head Coach: Talvin Hester Record at LA Tech: 26-24 (2nd year) Career Record: Same Record vs. Liberty: 0-0
VS LIBERTY FLAMES (11-6, 0-2 CUSA) Head Coach: Ritchie McKay Record at Liberty: 237-119 (11th year) Career Record: 402-277 (22nd year) Record vs. LA Tech: 0-0
AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 94
AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 99
BULLDOG STORYLINES
Overall: 11-6 | CUSA: 1-1 | H: 8-0 | A: 3-6 | N: 0-0 NOVEMBER 6 at Colorado State 13 LYON COLLEGE 16 at ULM 21 SOUTHERN UTAH^ 22 MCNEESE STATE^ 25 DILLARD 29 at New Mexico
MEDIA MWN ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ MWN
W/L L W W W W W L
SCORE 73-81 100-43 73-63 67-53 71-62 105-65 65-74
5 at Stephen F. Austin 9 UL-LAFAYETTE 12 SOUTHEASTERN 16 at Saint Louis 20 at Seattle U 30 at Grand Canyon
ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+
W W W L L L
56-49 72-67 89-60 74-75 73-79OT 70-73
• Louisiana Tech plays its first Conference USA game at home on Sunday, hosting Liberty at 2 p.m. CT inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. The Bulldogs look to remain perfect at home this season, having won all eight in the TAC. • LA Tech snapped its four-game road losing streak on Thursday, defeating Middle Tennessee, 60-52, to pick up its first league victory of the season. The Bulldogs were locked in defensively, limiting the Blue Raiders to 38.9 percent shooting while also forcing 18 turnovers. In doing so, the team improved to 11-0 this season when holding opponents under 70 points.
• The Bulldogs have faulted to the top of CUSA in three-point shooting percentage (36.2). LA Tech went 8-of-19 from deep to help come away victorious over Middle Tennessee. Over the DECEMBER last four games, the ‘Dogs are shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc (31-of-80) and 40.9 2 NICHOLLS ESPN+ W 68-55 percent in their two league games (18-of-44).
JANUARY 3 DALLAS CHRISTIAN ESPN+ W 96-55 6 at Sam Houston* ESPN+ L 77-81 11 at Middle Tennessee* CBS SN W 60-52 14 LIBERTY* ESPN2 2 p.m. 20 at Jacksonville State* ESPN+ 4 p.m. 25 UTEP* ESPN+ 6 p.m. 27 NEW MEXICO STATE* ESPN+ 2 p.m. FEBRUARY 1 at FIU* ESPN+ 6 p.m. 7 WKU* ESPN+ 6 p.m. 10 at Liberty* ESPNU 7 p.m. 15 JACKSONVILLE STATE* ESPN+ 6 p.m. 17 FIU* ESPN+ 2 p.m. 22 at UTEP* ESPN+ 8 p.m. 24 at New Mexico State* ESPN+ 8 p.m. 28 at WKU* ESPN+ 7 p.m.
• One of the reasons for the high shooting percentage from three-point range is Tahlik Chavez. He continued his scoring tear on Thursday, posting 15 points including three triples (two of which came in clutch moments versus the Blue Raiders). He currently ranks third in CUSA in three-point field goal percentage (40.9) and fourth in threes made per game (2.6). Over the last four games, he is averaging 15.0 points while shooting 51.9 percent from beyond the arc (14-of-27). • Isaiah Crawford and Daniel Batcho make up arguably the best frontcourt in CUSA. The duo ranks in the top six in the league in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, and blocks per game, having combined for 29.3 points and 16.3 rebounds per contest as well as 56 total blocks. Batcho registered his seventh double-double of the season at Middle Tennessee with 16 points and 13 boards (no other CUSA player has more than two). Meanwhile, Crawford posted 14 points versus the Blue Raiders, marking his seventh straight game in double figures (averaging 15.3 ppg during span). • Isaiah Crawford continues to be one of the best two-way players in college basketball. He is currently one of only three players in the country with at least 200 points, 100 rebounds, 40 assists, 30 steals, and 20 blocks. Earlier this season, he became the first Bulldog in program history with 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 200 career assists, 100 career steals, and 50 career blocks. • The Bulldogs have been dominant at home this season, going a perfect 8-0. They have a scoring margin of +26.0 with shooting percentages of 48.4 from the field and 38.5 from three-point range as well as a +10.4 rebounding margin and +4.3 turnover margin.
A LA TECH WIN...
MARCH 7 SAM HOUSTON* CBS SN 8 p.m. 9 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* ESPN+ 2 p.m. • Would give the Bulldogs their 75th Conference USA win at home. LA Tech is 74-16 all12 CUSA Championship$ ----- TBA time in CUSA games played at the Thomas Assembly Center (82.2 winning percentage). All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change * Conference USA game ^ LA Tech MTE $ Huntsville, Ala.
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• Would improve the Bulldogs record in CUSA home openers to 10-1. The lone loss in LA Tech’s first CUSA game at the TAC came during the 2017-18 season. • Would give the Bulldogs their ninth straight home win. Since 2012, LA Tech has had seven separate home winning streaks of 10+ games, including a program-tying 39game home winning streak that lasted from Dec. 7, 2013 to Jan. 2, 2016.
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