LOUISIANA TECH 2022-23 BULLDOG BASKETBALL

Game 33 Matchup Gameday Info

DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 9 | 8 p.m. CT

LOCATION: Ford Center at The Star (Frisco, Texas)

SERIES HISTORY: LA Tech leads, 28-17

STREAK: North Texas, 2

LAST MEETING: North Texas 72, LA Tech 62 Feb. 16, 2023 | Ruston, La.

MEDIA: ESPN+

TALENT: Ron Thulin (pxp), Colin Boddicker (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)

#10 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS (15-17)

Head Coach: Talvin Hester

Record at LA Tech: 15-17 (1st year)

Career Record: Same

Record vs. UNT: 0-2

Vs

#2 north texas mean green (25-6)

Head Coach: Grant McCasland

Record at UNT: 129-64 (6th year)

Career Record: 205-88 (9th year)

Record vs. LA Tech: 8-6

Bulldog Storylines

• No.10 seed Louisiana Tech takes on No. 2 seed North Texas in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night at 8 p.m. CT inside the Ford Center at the Star. It will be the third straight year that the Bulldogs and Mean Green face off in the league tournament.

• LA Tech and FIU went into overtime for the second time in six days, and again the Bulldogs prevailed, this time by a score of 81-76 to advance in the C-USA Tournament. The ‘Dogs had their 20-point lead erased, but outscored the Panthers, 12-7, in OT to make it to the quarterfinals (something they have done in all nine C-USA Tournaments they have played in).

• The Bulldogs played their sixth overtime game of the season, the most in program history. They are tied with two other teams (Wisconsin and Texas A&M-Commerce) for the most OT games played this season. It was the second time ever that the ‘Dogs played an OT game in the C-USA Tournament.

• The All-Conference duo of Keaston Willis (honorable mention) and Isaiah Crawford (third team) combined for 46 points, 18 rebounds, and six assists in the win over FIU. Willis tied his season high with 23 points (tied for most ever by a Bulldog in a C-USA Tournament game) to go along with a career-high 10 rebounds, registering his first career double-double (has played 116 collegiate games). Meanwhile, Crawford tallied 22 points for his seventh 20+ scoring performance of the season. It was the second time he has tallied at least 20 points in a C-USA Tournament game.

• Two-time All-Conference USA selection Isaiah Crawford has increased his offensive production as of late. Over the last eight games, he is averaging 17.9 points while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from beyond the arc. Three of his seven 20-point scoring efforts has come during this stretch, including back-to-back 20-point games in the regular season finale against Florida Atlantic and the C-USA Tournament first round matchup with FIU. With this latest offensive output, he is now just 26 points shy of becoming the 45th 1,000-point scorer in program history.

• Keaston Willis drained four more three-pointers in the OT win, giving him 296 made three-pointers for his career. In his five career C-USA Tournament games, he has made 15 total triples (has made at least four in three games).

• LA Tech and North Texas meet up in the C-USA Tournament for the fourth time, the most common opponent for the Bulldogs in the postseason. The ‘Dogs eliminated the top-seeded Mean Green in the semifinals last season in what was the lowest scoring game in tournament history (won 42-36). It was revenge as North Texas eliminated top-seeded LA Tech in the 2021 C-USA Tournament semifinals. The two teams also met in the 2018 C-USA Tournament as well as twice when they were league foes in the Southland Conference (1983 and 1984).

• North Texas swept the season series over LA Tech, winning 67-65 in Denton on a game-winning jumper by Kai Huntsberry with four seconds left. The Mean Green prevailed, 72-62, in Ruston behind a 61.2 percent shooting effort (Bulldogs allowed a season-high 48 paint points).

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

• Voted All-Conference USA Honorable Mention

• Reached 1,500 points in his collegiate career (took only 110 games)

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

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

• Has made 295 3-pointers during his collegiate career (LA Tech and UIW)

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

• Reached 100 career offensive rebounds in game against FIU (2/9)

• Has registered at least one block in last 12 games, averaging 1.8 blocks during span

• Has started in 14 straight games

• Has a wing span of 7’4”

• Has only missed 4 free throws all season, going 34-of-38 (has made 15 straight)

• 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 six 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)

• Averaging 8.0 points per game over last nine games played (averaged 1.6 ppg prior)

• Has played 26+ minutes in eight of the last 11 games (including 4 starts)

• 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

• Voted to C-USA All-Freshman Team; Three-time C-USA Freshman of the Week

• He has a team-high 99 total assists and ranks second in total steals with 37

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

• Is first Bulldog on the roster from Ruston since 2008

• Earned Third Team All-Conference USA honors for a second time in his career

• Scored season-high 25 points at Florida Atlantic (2/11) and at North Texas (1/11)

• 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)

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

• Has missed last 23 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 (3)

Isaiah Crawford

Kaleb Stewart

Keaston Willis

OUTSIDE

By Class

SOPHOMORES

Kaleb

FRESHMEN (3)

Pierre

By Name

Quandre

Pierre