RUSTON – After finishing 2018 with seven straight wins, Louisiana Tech will carry that streak into the new calendar year of 2019 when they take on North Texas on Thursday night at 7 p.m. inside the Super Pit.
 
The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Hank Dickenson and Paul Valamides 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 (11-3, 1-0 C-USA) opened league action with a convincing 71-56 victory over travel partner Southern Miss this past Saturday.  It marked the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Bulldogs began C-USA action with a win.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs ended the month with a perfect 7-0 record, marking the first time since 1971 (and only the fourth time since 1950) that the team went undefeated in December.
 
Sophomore forward Anthony Duruji poured in a season-high 23 points against the Golden Eagles, connecting on a career-tying four three-pointers.  It marked his team-leading 10th game in double-digit scoring.  Sophomore guard Jacolby Pemberton also connected on a career-high four triples (only had two total last season). 
 
Duruji now leads the team in scoring with an average of 13.3 points per game, followed closely by junior guard DaQuan Bracey who is averaging 13.1 points per contest.  Pemberton has been the most efficient player, leading the squad in field goal percentage at 55.6 percent from the field. 
 
North Texas (13-1, 1-0 C-USA) is off to its best start to the season since 1952-53.  The Mean Green have carried over the momentum from last season when they won 20 games under first-year head coach Grant McCasland and won the CBI Championship.
 
UNT is riding an 11-game home winning streak and has won 19 of their last 21 games dating back to last season.  They currently rank first in C-USA in field goal percentage (48.8) and three-point field goal percentage (39.3). 
 
The Mean Green have balanced scoring much like the Bulldogs as they have five guys averaging in double figures, led by Umoja Gibson who is averaging 13.3 points per game.  The player that makes them go though is point guard Ryan Woolridge who is averaging 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. 
 
LA Tech and North Texas are meeting for the 34th time, a series that dates back to 1952.  The two teams played most in the 80s as league foes in the Southland Conference.
 
The Bulldogs have won 19 of the last 22 meetings over the Mean Green dating back to 1983 and have won five straight in the series, including the two meetings last season which came in Ruston and in Frisco, Texas in the C-USA Tournament (LA Tech won both by a combined seven points).
 
Twitter users can follow @LATechHoops for live in-game updates.