RUSTON – Louisiana Tech goes for a weekend sweep on Saturday afternoon when they play host to defending Conference USA regular season champion Middle Tennessee at 4 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
It will be the annual "White Out" game which started back in 2011 (did not have one in 2016 or 2017). Fans are encouraged to wear white as 500 free "White Out" t-shirts will be handed out.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Lyn Rollins and LaDarrin McLane calling the action. Fans can also listen to the Voice of the Bulldogs
Dave Nitz and
Jack Thigpen call the game through 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.
LA Tech put an end to its two-game losing skid with a 64-53 victory over UAB this past Thursday. With the game tied at the five-minute mark, the Bulldogs closed things out using a 15-4 run. It was both the fewest points scored and the fewest points allowed by the team this season.
Sophomore Jacolby Pemberton stuffed the stat sheet, registering a career-high 17 points while making a career-high five three-pointers. He also added a game-high nine rebounds to go along with two assists, two blocks and two steals.
Pemberton has been as efficient as they come on both sides of the ball. He now leads the team in field goal percentage (58.1), three-point field goal percentage (42.5) and has a team-high 12 games scoring in double figures.
Breaking out of a couple of offensive slumps were sophomore
Amorie Archibald and junior
Oliver Powell as both players were crucial in helping LA Tech remain a perfect 9-0 at home this season.
Archibald made his last five shot attempts versus the Blazers after making four total field goals in the previous three games. As for Powell, he tallied 11 points and eight rebounds, this coming after recording just 15 points over the previous five games.
The Bulldogs were able to break even on the glass with the Blazers and they also took great care of the basketball with only seven turnovers. Over the last five games, the 'Dogs are averaging only 9.2 turnovers per game and have just 23 total turnovers over the last three games.
Middle Tennessee (3-13, 0-3 C-USA) has won the conference regular season title the last two years, but they have a revamped roster and coaching staff this year. The Blue Raiders lost all five starters from last season and returned only 15.2 percent of their minutes played which is the fifth least in the nation.
First-year head coach Nick McDevitt took over for Kermit Davis who went to Ole Miss after spending 16 seasons in Murfreesboro.
The Blue Raiders have lost 12 in a row, but much of their struggles can be attributed to their non-conference strength of schedule which was ranked as the fourth hardest in the country.
Guard Antonio Green has been the biggest bright spot for the new-look team as he is currently averaging 18.7 points per game (fifth most in C-USA), having made 47 three-pointers which is more than the rest of his team combined.
LA Tech and Middle Tennessee are meeting for the 17th time in the series. The Bulldogs own an 11-5 advantage, but since the two teams became leagues foes they own just a 4-3 edge. The Blue Raiders have won the last three meetings.
Twitter users can follow @LATechHoops for live in-game updates.
