Games Notes

Louisiana Tech puts a three-game win streak on the line Saturday as the Bulldogs play at Rice in a 2:05 p.m. contest at Autry Court in Houston.

Both teams opened the Western Athletic Conference season with wins on Thursday. Tech stands at 6-4 and 1-0 while Rice is 6-3 and 1-0.

Tech defeated Tulsa 58-52 to open the WAC season after taking wins over McNeese State and Memphis and hopes to continue the win streak against the Owls.

"The win over Tulsa was big and hopefully we've built some momentum," Tech coach Keith Richard said. "We'll need all we can get to beat Rice on its home court."

Sophomore forward Paul Millsap leads the Bulldogs and the WAC with 20.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.

Senior guard Donell Allick is adding 11.2 points per game for the 'Dogs while senior guard Corey Dean rounds out Tech's double-digit scorers with 10.3 ppg.

Rice senior forward Michael Harris, the preseason WAC Player of the Year, leads the Owls and ranks No. 3 in the WAC with 19.9 ppg.

The Bulldogs have turned in their two best defensive stands of the season in the past two games, holding Memphis to 55 points and Tulsa to 52. Tech will need another strong defensive effort against a Rice squad that is tied for first in the WAC with 75.9 ppg.

"Rice is a good offensive team, so slowing them down will be a key," Richard said. "Our defense has started coming around recently and we just have to keep that trend going."

Louisiana Tech leads 7-3 in a series which began during the 1974-75 season at the Pacemaker Classic in Monroe, La. Rice had won three straight before the
Bulldogs won the second game between the schools last season by the score of 70-58.

The game will be broadcast live on KXKZ-FM 107.5 in Ruston with the pregame showing beginning at 1:35 p.m.