RUSTON – The road challenges keep coming for Louisiana Tech as they head south to battle in-state foe Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Cajundome in what will be the 164th meeting between the two programs. 
 
The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+.  Fans can also listen to the Voice of the Bulldogs Dave Nitz and Jack Thigpen thrugh the LA Tech Sports Network on KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston), KJVC 92.7 FM (Mansfield) and KRMD 100.7 FM/1340 AM (Shreveport) as well as on the Louisiana Tech X mobile app.
 
Despite being down two starters, LA Tech (8-3) was able to extend its winning streak to four with another strong offensive output, downing Mississippi Valley State 96-80. 
 
Six players scored in double figures, led by Junior DaQuan Bracey who had a season-high 24 points and eight assists and zero turnovers.  The guard has been on a tear as of late, averaging 22.0 points per game over his last three games.
 
Junior Oliver Powell set a new career high in scoring with 22 points while sophomore JaColby Pemberton notched his second career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
 
During the Bulldogs' four-game winning streak, they are averaging 89.8 points per game and have scored 96 points in each of the last two games.  A big reason for this is the team's field goal percentage of 47.9 which ranks currently ranks first in Conference USA.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette was picked to finish in a tie for second place in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.  The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off a SBC regular season last season, a year in which they won a school-record 27 games.  
 
ULL is on a winning streak of its own at five games with victories over Tulane, New Orleans, Southern, Loyola (N.O.) and most recently a 122-90 victory over Prairie View A&M.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns are led by their trio of seniors – Jakeenan Gant, Marcus Stroman and Malik Marquetti.  Gant leads the team in points (18.6) and rebounds (7.6).  Marquetti and Stroman average 12.6 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
 
They currently rank 15th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 86.9 points per game.  A good bit of their damage comes from beyond the arc, a place where they rank first in SBC in three-point field goals per game (8.9) and total three-point field goals made (98).  Both rank in the top 40 in the nation.
 
The two teams have been conference foes in five different leagues.  Despite being in different leagues since 2001, the two teams have been playing a continuous home-and-home series since 2013.  ULL has had the upper-hand since the series was renewed, winning four of the five meetings.
 
Twitter users can follow @LATechHoops for live in-game updates.