RUSTON – Louisiana Tech is set for another challenging road swing in Conference USA, beginning on Thursday night against preseason favorite WKU with tipoff set for 8 p.m. inside E.A. Diddle Arena.
 
The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network with Michael Grady and Chris Walker calling the action.  Fans can also listen to Dave Nitz call the game on KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston), KOKA 93.3 FM/980 AM (Shreveport) and KJVC 92.7 FM (Mansfield) as well as on the LA Tech Athletics app.
 
LA Tech (17-5, 8-2 C-USA) is riding a four-game winning streak after sweeping its home games this past weekend.  First was a 72-59 victory over Charlotte and then DaQuan Bracey hit a game-winning three to help the Bulldogs get past Old Dominion, 76-73, on Saturday.
 
Bracey, who is shooting 50.6 percent from beyond the arc this season, making four of the team's 11 three-pointers and the squad made a season-high 19 free throws to snap a four-game losing streak to the Monarchs. 
 
For the season, the senior guard is scoring a team-high 12.9 points per game, followed by Kalob Ledoux at 11.8 and Amorie Archibald at 11.3 points. 
 
Derric Jean is averaging 9.4 points per game for the season, but during conference play the senior is averaging 10.6 points while shooting 53 percent from the field. 
 
LA Tech, who is in a tie for first in the league standings, looks to continue its strong play on the road as they are the only team in C-USA with a winning road record this season, having gone 6-4 away from home.  The 'Dogs are also 4-1 in road conference games, having won three straight at UTEP, Middle Tennessee and UAB.  
 
WKU (14-8, 7-3 C-USA) is in third place in the standings following two close losses on the road to Florida Atlantic and FIU this past week.  They are 9-1 at home this season and a perfect 5-0 at home against league opponents.
 
The Hilltoppers have one of the top offenses in the league, averaging 76.6 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field.  Both marks rank third in C-USA.
 
They excel in two specific categories – free throw shooting and not committing fouls.  They lead the league at 78.4 percent from the charity stripe, a mark which ranks fifth in the country.  And they only commit 13.6 fouls per game, a mark which also ranks fifth in the country.
 
All five of the Hilltoppers' current starters average double-figure points, led by Taveion Hollingsworth who is averaging 15.4 points per contest.
 
WKU leads the all-time series over LA Tech, 17-16.  The two teams have played each other once each of the last five seasons as C-USA foes and the home team has won every time.