Game 20 LA Tech vs. UTEP game notes

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LOUISIANA TECH 2023-24 BULLDOG BASKETBALL GAME 20 MATCHUP

GAMEDAY INFO DATE/TIME: Thursday, Jan. 25 | 6 p.m. CT LOCATION: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.) SERIES HISTORY: LA Tech leads, 18-14 STREAK: LA Tech, 1 LAST MEETING: Jan. 7, 2023 | Ruston, La. LA Tech 60, UTEP 58 MEDIA: ESPN+ TALENT: Lyn Rollins (pxp), Victor Howell (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 (13-6, 3-1 cusa) Head Coach: Talvin Hester Record at LA Tech: 28-24 (2nd year) Career Record: Same Record vs. UTEP: 1-1

VS UTEP MINERS (11-8, 2-2 cusa) Head Coach: Joe Golding Record at UTEP: 45-40 (3rd year) Career Record: 208-184 (13th year) Record vs. LA Tech: 2-2

AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 86

AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 219

BULLDOG STORYLINES

Overall: 13-6 | CUSA: 3-1 | H: 9-0 | A: 4-6 | 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

3 DALLAS CHRISTIAN 6 at Sam Houston* 11 at Middle Tennessee* 14 LIBERTY* 20 at Jacksonville State* 25 UTEP* 27 NEW MEXICO STATE*

ESPN+ W ESPN+ L CBS SN W ESPN2 W ESPN+ W ESPN+ ESPN+

96-55 77-81 60-52 80-76OT 74-57 6 p.m. 2 p.m.

1 at FIU* 7 WKU* 10 at Liberty* 15 JACKSONVILLE STATE* 17 FIU* 22 at UTEP* 24 at New Mexico State* 28 at WKU*

ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPNU ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+

6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m.

• Louisiana Tech is back home for a pair of conference matchups, starting on Thursday night against UTEP inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. The Bulldogs look to win their fourth straight league game and keep their home unbeaten streak in tact. • With the game tied at 43-43 with 12 minutes to go, LA Tech outscored Jacksonville State 31-14 the rest of the way as the Bulldogs raced past the Gamecocks, winning 74-57 this past Saturday in Alabama. The Bulldogs made 12 of their last 14 field goal attempts and ended up shooting 54.0 percent from the field.

• Isaiah Crawford was unstoppable against Jax State, scoring a career-high 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting. The forward took over in the second half, scoring 21 of his 30 points while DECEMBER making eight of his nine field goal attempts. He was also a menace on the defensive end, 2 NICHOLLS ESPN+ W 68-55 registering a season-high five steals. • The Bulldogs got quality minutes off the bench from Dravon Mangum, Devin Ree, and Terri Miller Jr. against the Gamecocks, combining for 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.

• While LA Tech ranks in the top 25 in the country in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, it has been the offensive end that has helped the Bulldogs get off to a good start in CUSA. In conference play, the ‘Dogs rank No. 1 in offensive efficiency, averaging 72.8 JANUARY points while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three. • Isaiah Crawford continues to be one of the best two-way players in college basketball. On offense, he is averaging a team-best 15.9 points per game (has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games) and is averaging 19.5 points during conference play with back-to-back performances of 22 and 30 points against Liberty and Jax State, respectively. Defensively, he is the only player in the country with at least 40 steals and 30 blocks.

• Tahlik Chavez is averaging 14.8 points during CUSA play while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc (has made 11 of his 22 three-point attempts). FEBRUARY He ranks second in CUSA in three-point field goal percentage (41.2), having made 49 triples. • Isaiah Crawford and Daniel Batcho make up arguably the best frontcourt in CUSA. The duo both rank in the top 10 in the league in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, and blocks per game, combining for 30.5 points and 15.6 boards per contest as well as 68 blocks (rank 1-2 in field goal percentage and blocks per game). • Going into this week’s conference action, the home teams are a combined 15-4 in league play. Two of those road wins have come courtesy of the Bulldogs, winning at Middle Tennessee and at Jacksonville State.

MARCH 7 SAM HOUSTON* CBS SN 8 p.m. 9 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* ESPN+ 2 p.m. 12 CUSA Championship$ ----- TBA • Would improve the Bulldogs home record to 10-0. LA Tech is one of 48 teams in the coun-

A LA TECH WIN...

All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change * Conference USA game ^ LA Tech MTE $ Huntsville, Ala.

@LATECHHOOPS

try still unbeaten at home and one of just two CUSA teams undefeated at home (WKU).

• Would give the Bulldogs their 12th win over the Miners in Ruston. LA Tech is 11-2 all-time versus UTEP at home. • Would give the Bulldogs their fourth straight conference win. LA Tech has put together at least a 4-game CUSA winning streak in eight of its 10 seasons in the league.

@LATECHHOOPS

/LATECHMBB


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