LOUISIANA TECH 2023-24 BULLDOG BASKETBALL GAME 22 MATCHUP
GAMEDAY INFO DATE/TIME: Thursday, Feb. 1 | 6 p.m. CT LOCATION: Ocean Bank Convocation Center (Miami, Fla.) SERIES HISTORY: LA Tech leads, 11-8 STREAK: LA Tech, 2 LAST MEETING: March 8, 2023 | Frisco, Texas LA Tech 81, FIU 76OT | CUSA Tournament MEDIA: ESPN+ TALENT: Nick Garrido (pxp) RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app TALENT: Malcolm Butler (pxp) STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
2023-24 SCHEDULE
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGs (15-6, 5-1 cusa) Head Coach: Talvin Hester Record at LA Tech: 30-24 (2nd year) Career Record: Same Record vs. FIU: 2-1
AT FIU PANTHERS (7-14, 2-4 cusa) Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard Record at FIU: 84-93 (6th year) Career Record: Same Record vs. LA Tech: 4-5
AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 83
AP Poll: NR USA Today Poll: NR NET Ranking: 288
BULLDOG STORYLINES
Overall: 15-6 | CUSA: 5-1 | H: 11-0 | A: 4-6 | N: 0-0
• Louisiana Tech looks to extend its five-game winning streak on Thursday night when the Bulldogs take on FIU in Miami at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
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
• LA Tech tied its season high with 49 rebounds against New Mexico State. The Bulldogs rank in the top 40 in the country in rebounds per game (39.90), having pulled down 40+ boards 11 times. They have outrebounded their opponent in 16 of the 21 games.
6 at Sam Houston* 11 at Middle Tennessee* 14 LIBERTY* 20 at Jacksonville State* 25 UTEP* 27 NEW MEXICO STATE*
ESPN+ CBS SN ESPN2 ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+
L W W W W W
77-81 60-52 80-76OT 74-57 68-54 73-53
• Daniel Batcho registered his ninth double-double of the season, recording 12 points and a career-tying 16 rebounds against New Mexico State (next most in CUSA is three). He is averaging 14.7 points and 10.4 boards per game, one of only 10 players in the nation averaging a double-double. The forward ranks in the top 20 in the country in rebounds per game and blocks per game with a CUSA-leading 45 rejections.
• After holding a five-point lead at halftime, LA Tech opened the second half on a 13-2 run. The lead grew to as much as 22 as the Bulldogs won, 73-53, over New Mexico State to help stay atop the conference standings. It marked win No. 15 for the Bulldogs, matching last seasons win total. It also kept LA Tech undefeated at home this season, having won all 11 in the Thomas Assembly Center.
• It was another stellar defensive effort for the Bulldogs who held the Aggies to 32.8 percent shooting. It marked the 13th time this season LA Tech has held its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. The ‘Dogs have held four of their five CUSA opponents to less than 60 DECEMBER points. They currently rank No. 1 in conference play in defensive efficiency while ranking top 2 NICHOLLS ESPN+ W 68-55 10 in the country in both field goal percentage defense (38.6) and scoring defense (63.2).
• Isaiah Crawford scored a game-high 25 points versus the Aggies, tallying his sixth 20+ scoring performance of the season (tied for the third most in CUSA). For the season, he is JANUARY averaging 16.0 points but in league play he has upped that to 18.7 points. Over the last four 3 DALLAS CHRISTIAN ESPN+ W 96-55 games, the forward is averaging 21.5 points per contest.
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.
• LA Tech has strung together five straight wins for the second time this season (first time since 2014-15 having multiple winning streaks of at least five games). During the streak, the trio of Isaiah Crawford, Daniel Batcho, and Tahlik Chavez have combined to average 48.8 points. Defensively, the team is holding opponents to 58.4 points per game. • 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 30.7 points and 16.1 boards per contest as well as 79 blocks (rank 1-2 in field goal percentage and blocks per game). • Going into Thursday’s conference action, the home teams are a combined 23-4 in league
MARCH play. Two of those road wins have come courtesy of the Bulldogs, winning at Middle Tennes7 SAM HOUSTON* CBS SN 8 p.m. see and at Jacksonville State. 9 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* ESPN+ 2 p.m. 12 CUSA Championship$ ----- TBA
A LA TECH WIN...
All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change * Conference USA game ^ LA Tech MTE $ Huntsville, Ala.
• Would give the Bulldogs their sixth straight CUSA win, which would tie for the second longest CUSA winning streak in program history (record is seven straight set in 2017). • Would give the Bulldogs their second win over the Panthers in Miami since becoming CUSA opponents. LA Tech is just 1-5 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center since 2013. • Would give the Bulldogs their 120th CUSA victory (8th most in the league’s history).
@LATECHHOOPS
@LATECHHOOPS
/LATECHMBB