RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech men's basketball team will get bonus play underway on Saturday night versus North Texas with tipoff set for 7 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
The matchup will be streamed live on CUSA.tv (subscription required).  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 KNBB 97.7 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 remaining league schedule was announced this past Saturday.  LA Tech (17-10, 7-7 C-USA) ended up finishing in the 6-10 pod and will take on North Texas, Marshall, FIU and Florida Atlantic in the final four conference matchups.
 
The Bulldogs will now have a four-game home stand at the TAC after sweeping last week's games at home against UTEP and UTSA.  After their battle with the Mean Green, they will host the Thundering Herd on Feb. 28.
 
LA Tech was clutch down the stretch in both outings against the Miners and Roadrunners.  In its last game, the score was tied up with two minutes to go, but the 'Dogs ended the game on an 8-3 run to take the 72-67 victory and remain a perfect 14-0 at home this season.
 
DaQuan Bracey had another standout performance, scoring a game-high 23 points which included three three-pointers and four crucial free throws down the stretch.  He ended up being named the C-USA Player of the Week after averaging 25.5 points while shooting 62 percent from the field.
 
It was the first such honor for him in his career and for any Bulldog this season.  He is currently averaging a team-best 15.0 points per game and has scored in double figures in 19 of the last 20 games.
 
Right behind him in scoring currently is Anthony Duruji who also had a big game against UTSA, posting his third career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.  He is averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 6.3 boards per contest.
 
They have both been instrumental on the defensive end as well with LA Tech currently ranking No. 1 in scoring defense in league games only, allowing just 63.6 points per contest.  Bracey leads the team in total steals (28) while Duruji anchors the team in total blocks (37).  
 
After getting off to a hot start to the season with a 16-1 mark, North Texas (20-7, 8-6 C-USA) has lost six of its last 10 games.  They are currently riding a three-game losing streak after dropping both games last week in the Sunshine State to Florida Atlantic and FIU by scores of 57-47 and 69-59, respectively.
 
North Texas currently ranks in the top 45 in the nation in both field goal percentage defense (40.3) and three-point field goal percentage defense (31.3).  Offensively, they are very balanced with six players averaging double figures in scoring. 
 
The Mean Green's best player is arguably Ryan Woolridge who does it all from the point guard position, averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
 
LA Tech and North Texas will meet for the second time this season and the 35th time ever.  The Bulldogs took on the Mean Green in the second game of the conference slate, falling 63-59 in Denton.  They erased a 19-point deficit and even tied it up with 48 seconds to go, but UNT pulled it out. 
 
North Texas won the first game ever played against LA Tech in Ruston back in 1952.  The Bulldogs have won the last 15 in the series at home though, including a 13-0 mark in the TAC.
 
Twitter users can follow @LATechHoops for live in-game updates.