RUSTON – The conference schedule does not get any easier for Louisiana Tech as they welcome preseason favorite WKU into the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff on Karl Malone Court.
The matchup will be streamed live on Facebook through Stadium as Chris Vosters, Max Starks and Olivia Dekker call 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.
The University will honor former players, coaches and support staff as part of Legends Day. Also being honored is the 1998-99 Bulldog Basketball team as part of the 20-year anniversary.
The game also being marketed as a Loyal Blue Out with tickets on sale for $8 for any seat in the arena (excluding courtside seats). Federal employees can receive two free tickets per government ID for the game as well in an effort to suppose those affected by the government shutdown. To claim those tickets, please visit the will call box office window. The box office opens 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
It will most likely be another hard-fought basketball game, similar to the one on Thursday night when LA Tech (14-7, 4-4 C-USA) outlasted Marshall 89-80 in overtime. After leading for almost the entire contest, the Bulldogs needed a game-tying bucket from
DaQuan Bracey just to send it into the extra frame.
Once in OT, LA Tech managed to outscore the Herd 18-7 and keep its perfect 11-0 home record this season intact. The Bulldogs are now the only C-USA team still undefeated at home this year.
Bracey ended the late night with a career-tying 25 points. It marked his 10th career 20-point scoring performance and the fifth one of this season. Also having a big performance was Jacolby Pemberton who notched his third double-double of the season with a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Bracey continues to lead the team in scoring this season, increasing his scoring average to 14.0 points per game. Pemberton bumped his scoring average up to 10.3 points per game.
Despite giving up 80 points to the high-octane Herd, LA Tech still came up with some critical defensive stops, especially in overtime, while holding Marshall to under one point per possession. The 'Dogs have done that in nine of the last 10 games.
It was the Bulldogs third straight overtime win and the second of the second. They have also won five straight OT games at home and are 17-5 all-time in OT games in the TAC.
WKU (11-9, 4-3 C-USA) was picked to win the league in the preseason and its wins in non-conference tell you why. They defeated West Virginia, Arkansas, Saint Mary's and Wisconsin.
Four of the Hilltoppers starters are averaging double figures in scoring, led by preseason All-Conference USA selection Taveion Hollingsworth at 15.7 points per game.
C-USA Freshman of the Year candidate Charles Bassey is one of those four as well. The forward currently leads the league in double-doubles (nine), field goal percentage (63.5), total blocks (47) and total rebounds (195).
LA Tech and WKU will meet for the 33rd time, a series that dates back all the way to 1928 and was a heated battle in the 90s when they were league foes in the Sun Belt. Each team has won twice since becoming conference opponents against in 2014-15 in C-USA with the home team winning all four meetings.
Twitter users can follow @LATechHoops for live in-game updates.
