LOUISIANA TECH 2022-23 BULLDOG BASKETBALL

Game 24 Matchup Gameday Info

DATE/TIME: Thursday, Feb. 9 | 6 p.m. CT

LOCATION: Ocean Bank Convocation Center (Miami, Fla.)

SERIES HISTORY: LA Tech leads, 9-7

STREAK: LA Tech, 3

LAST MEETING: Louisiana Tech 86, FIU 82

Feb. 5, 2022 | Miami, Fla.

MEDIA: ESPN+

TALENT: AJ Ricketts (pxp), Patrick Murray (analyst)

RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app

TALENT: Malcolm Butler (pxp), Jack Thigpen (analyst)

STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats

2022-23 SCHEDULE

All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change * C-USA game

^ Samford MTE

$ Frisco, Texas (The Star)

LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS (13-10, 6-6 c-usa)

Head Coach: Talvin Hester

Record at LA Tech: 13-10 (1st year)

Career Record: Same

Record vs. FIU: 0-0

At

fiu panthers (12-12, 6-7 C-usa)

Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard

Record at FIU: 75-72 (5th year)

Career Record: Same

Record vs. LA Tech: 2-3

Bulldog Storylines

• Louisiana Tech heads to Miami on Thursday to face FIU at 6 p.m. CT inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Panthers are one of only two C-USA teams the Bulldogs have yet to face this season.

• LA Tech got the season sweep over Rice, winning 80-72 in Ruston a week ago. The Bulldogs had as much as a 24-point lead, but ended up making winning plays down the stretch to win. With the game tied up at 72-72 with 1:12 left, LA Tech closed the game out on an 8-0 run. It was one of their best offensive performances of the season, knocking down 12 three-pointers while also going 14-of-16 from the foul line.

• Four Bulldogs scored in double figures versus the Owls -- Cobe Williams (20), Kaleb Stewart (17), Dravon Mangum (15), and Isaiah Crawford (14). Stewart’s 17 points was a career high, knocking down a career-high five three-pointers. After totaling 13 points in seven games played, Stewart has totaled 26 points over the last two games (averaging 27.5 minutes and 13.0 points).

• Cobe Williams has scored 20+ points in five of his last six games (the non-20 point game was an 18-point effort att UTSA). He continued his streak of games with at least 16 points, extending that to 13 games which is the longest streak of anyone in C-USA this season and the third longest streak of any Bulldog in the last 20 years.

• The Big Three of Cobe Williams (19.6), Isaiah Crawford (12.7), and Keaston Willis (12.6) have accounted for 63 percent of the Bulldogs scoring in C-USA action. All three rank in the top 15 in scoring during league play only, making LA Tech the only team in the league with three players in the top 15.

• With eight conference games remaining, LA Tech is in a tie with Rice for fifth place while FIU is half a game behind in seventh. The top five teams will receive a bye in the Conference USA Tournament. The Bulldogs will play Panthers twice over their last eight league contests.

• The FIU-Florida Atlantic road swing has been a difficult one for LA Tech since joining Conference USA. The Bulldogs are a combined 2-6 facing the Panthers and Owls in the Sunshine State.

A LOUISIANA TECH WIN WOULD...

• Be the fourth straight victory over FIU. The current three-game winning streak is the longest ever for the Bulldogs in the series.

• Be the fourth win over the Panthers in Miami. LA Tech has only defeated FIU once at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center since the two teams became C-USA foes in 201314 (that one time came last season in an 86-82 victory).

• Be the third straight conference win. The Bulldogs have not been able to put together three straight league victories yet this season. LA Tech has had at least one streak of three C-USA wins every season they have been in the conference.

KENNY HUNTER • So. • F • 6-10 • 235 • Shreveport, La.

• His streak of 53 straight starts ended this past Thursday at Rice (2/2), foot injury

• Reached 1,000 points in his collegiate career last season (took only 70 games)

• Has scored 20+ points in 19 career games (including at UIW); six times at LA Tech

• Connected on 93 made 3-pointers last season, second most in program history

• Has made 272 3-pointers during his collegiate career (LA Tech and UIW)

• Has recorded five double-digit scoring games (career-high 18 points at Rice)

• Is nearing 100 career offensive rebounds (has 98)

• Averaging 24.4 minutes over last 9 games, has started in 5 straight

• Anchored the team in FG% last season at 62.1 percent (54-of-87 shooting)

• Has a wing span of 7’4”

• Has only missed 4 free throws all season, going 26-of-30 from the foul line

• Registered a career-high 22 points vs. Jarvis Christian (12/21), making fourth start

• Made 36 starts at Radford, averaging 8.2 points per game

• Made 13 starts at Charlotte while averaging 4.8 points and 2.7 boards per game

• One of just four Bulldogs to be from the state of North Carolina (along with Bullock)

• Has four double-digit scoring games this season

• Tied season high with 12 points vs. UTEP (1/7), went 6-of-8 from the field

• Saw first action as Bulldog vs. ULM (11/21), scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting

• First Team All-Region selection at Angelina College this past season

• One of just four Bulldogs to be from the state of North Carolina (along with Mangum)

• Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Rice (2/2)

• Played a career-high 27 minutes at UTSA (1/28), scoring a season-high 9 points

• Made his first career start as a Bulldog in season opener vs. MC (11/7)

• One of five players named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2021-22

• Father played basketball and mother played volleyball at Wiley College

• Posted a career-high 20 points at Alabama A&M (11/23), went 6-of-7 from three

• Became the 12th Bulldog in the last decade to make at least 6 threes in a game

• Scored 10 points vs. ULM (11/21), played a season-high 23 minutes

• Saw limited action in 16 games as a true freshman last season

• As a senior, led Marianna Lee HS to Arkansas 2A state title, program’s first in 38 years

• Matched career high with 5 points vs. Jarvis Christian (12/21)

• Played a career-high 13 minutes vs. UT Southern (11/26), scored career-high 5 points

• Saw limited action in eight games as a true freshman last season

• C-USA Academic Medalist and Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient in 2021-22

• State champion in 200IM in swimming as a sophomore in high school

• Pulled down a season-high 9 rebounds vs. UT Southern (11/26)

• Made Bulldog debut in the season opener vs. MC (11/7), has started all 7 games

• Redshirted last season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in preseason

• While sitting out last season, added 15 pounds to his frame

• Named LSWA Class 5A Most Outstanding Player and LABC 5A Player of the Year

• Recorded a career-high 12 assists vs. JCU (12/21), most by a Bulldog since 2017

• Has been named C-USA Freshman of the Week twice this season

• His 81 assists ranks fifth in C-USA and is the 12th most of any freshman in country

• Won four Class B state championships at nearby Simsboro High School

• Is first Bulldog on the roster from Ruston since 2008

• Scored season-high 25 points at North Texas (1/11), two shy of career high

• Saw first action in 357 days, scoring 12 points in his return from knee injury

• Has suffered two season-ending knee injuries (1st year and 3rd year)

• Earned Third Team All-Conference USA honors as a sophomore

• Has a 7’1” wing span and a 8’8” standing reach

• Has scored double-digit points in 40 of his last 47 games (CH 27 points vs UAB 1/14)

• Became 44th member of 1,000-point club at LA Tech

• One of 10 players voted to the 2022-23 Preseason All-Conference USA Team

• 2021-22 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention, 2-time C-USA All-Defensive Team

• Named after Kobe Bryant (wears No. 24 in honor of him as well)

• Has missed last 14 games due to a knee injury

• Scored first career points as a Bulldog at Alabama A&M (11/23)

• Saw first career action as a Bulldog in season opener vs. MC (11/7)

• Played prep basketball in Los Angeles at Ribet Academy and Prolific Prep

• Just the 12th internationl player to ever play for the Bulldogs

Numerical Roster By Location

ARKANSAS (1)

Terran Williams

LOUISIANA (4)

Will Allen

Jordan Crawford

Kenny Hunter

Ben Ponder

NORTH CAROLINA (2)

Isaiah Crawford

Kaleb Stewart

COACHING & SUPPORT STAFF

TEXAS (4)

Isaiah Crawford

Kaleb Stewart

Cobe Williams

Keaston Willis

OUTSIDE

By Class

SENIORS (1)

SOPHOMORES (4)

FRESHMEN

By Name

Quandre

Dravon