RUSTON – Louisiana Tech will begin its eighth season in Conference USA with the league slate starting on Friday and Saturday against Marshall inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
Friday's matchup will tipoff at 6:30 p.m. while Saturday's game is set for 6 p.m.  Both matchups will be streamed live on ESPN+.  Fans can also to Dave Nitz and Jack Thigpen call the action through the LA Tech Sports Network. 
 
LA Tech (7-2) will take a three-game winning streak into conference play after picking up its first road victory of the season, a 68-57 win over ULM back on Dec. 22.  The Bulldogs overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half, holding the Warhawks to just 13 points in the final 14 minutes of the contest, to win their eighth straight in the series.
 
Kalob Ledoux and Cobe Williams led the way offensively with 13 points apiece.  Kenneth Lofton, Jr. nearly notched a double-double with seven points and a career-tying 12 rebounds.
 
As a result of his performance, Lofton, Jr. was named C-USA Freshman of the Week for a third time this season (out of five weeks).  The freshman forward is currently ranks second on the team in scoring (10.3 points) and rebounding (6.8) per game.
 
The 'Dogs are a perfect 6-0 at home this season and are riding a 12-game home winning streak, the longest such streak by a C-USA team and tied for the 15th-longest active streak in the country. 
 
In the six home games this season, LA Tech has been extremely efficient on offense, averaging 82.3 points per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Marshall (6-1) enters the weekend with the second-best non-conference record in the league, having lost just once in overtime to Toledo.  Most recently, the Thundering Herd prevailed 88-67 over UNC Asheville.
 
The Herd, who are averaging 82.1 points per game this season, have scored below 80 points just once all season and that came in the season opener against Arkansas State.  In their two road games, they put up 80 and 84 points to win at Wright State and College of Charleston.
 
They are led by junior guard Taevion Kinsey who was a Second Team All-Conference USA selection last season.  He currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 21.7 points per contest.
 
Another key player is senior guard Jarrod West who was a Third Team All-Conference USA selection a year ago.  He ranks second on the team in scoring with an average of 14.3 points per game.  His 25 total steals is the seventh most in the country. 
 
LA Tech leads the all-time series, 7-4, but Marshall has had the upper-hand as of late, winning four of the last five meetings.  The Bulldogs are 4-1 all-time at home, however the Herd won the last meeting in Ruston in 2019. 
 
These two teams were set to go head-to-head in the C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals last season before it was canceled.  Two of the last three meetings have gone into overtime. 
 
Fans can follow Bulldog Basketball on Twitter (@LATechHoops), Instagram (@LATechHoops) and Facebook (LATechMBB) for live in-game updates.