Feb. 27, 2014

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech (23-6, 11-3 C-USA) defeated Middle Tennessee (21-8, 11-3 C-USA), 55-39, Thursday night in front of 5,349 fans in the Thomas Assembly Center.

• LA Tech leads the all-time series over Middle Tennessee, 8-2.
• LA Tech has won three straight over Middle Tennessee and is a perfect 6-0 against the Blue Raiders at home.
• LA Tech is now 23-6 overall and in a four-way tie for first place in C-USA with an 11-3 mark.
• Before the Bulldogs knocked off the Blue Raiders tonight in the TAC, MT was on a nine-game winning streak.
• LA Tech has won 31 of the last 32 games in the TAC. They are 13-1 at home this season.
• Starters for LA Tech: Alex Hamilton, Michale Kyser, Kenneth Smith, Chris Anderson, Jaron Johnson. The Bulldogs are 6-2 this season with this group of starters.
• LA Tech's average home attendance for the 2013-14 season was 4,154, which ranks second in school history only behind the 1984-85 season when the Bulldogs averaged 5,009 in attendance. The attendance tonight versus MT was 5,349, which makes tonight's game the third time this season at least 5,000 fans have packed the Thomas Assembly Center to watch the Dunkin 'Dogs.
• Kenyon McNeail made two three-point baskets tonight to reach 200 made three-pointers for his career. He is only the fourth Bulldog ever to reach this feat (Lonnie Cooper, Kyle Gibson and Gerrod Henderson).
• Kenneth Smith recorded nine assists (220) to break the program record for most assists in a single season. The previous record was 218 set by Wayne Smith during the 1985-86 season.
• Kenneth Smith totaled eight steals (73) tonight to break the program record for most steals in a single season. Eight steals is also a single-game record in Louisiana Tech history and a career-high for the junior guard. The previous record was 69 set by Willie Bland during the 1984-85 season.
• Michale Kyser's eight blocked shots vs. MT helped move him up to second all-time for career blocks in program history. He has now totaled 243 career blocks, which surpasses P.J. Brown (1988-92) for sole possession of second place in the Louisiana Tech record books.
• For the first time since Jan. 9, Raheem Appleby made an appearance in a game for the Bulldogs. After suffering ligament damage vs. Florida Atlantic on Jan. 9, Appleby sat out 49 days before coming on as a substitute tonight with 9:14 left in the 1st half against Middle Tennessee. He missed a total of 12 games, all in Conference USA play. Appleby played a total of five minutes during tonight's game.
• LA Tech is currently 22-0 on the year when leading or tied at the half. The Bulldogs led Middle Tennessee, 27-19, tonight at the halfway mark.
• LA Tech is 19-0 on the season when forcing 15 or more turnovers. Middle Tennessee had 19 turnovers tonight vs. the Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs wrapped up their home schedule tonight and clinched a perfect 8-0 conference record in the Thomas Assembly Center this season.
• LA Tech held Middle Tennessee to just 39 points on the night, which is the lowest point total the Blue Raiders have posted all season. Before tonight, the least amount of points MT had scored was 48 in a 69-48 loss at No. 11 Cincinnati.