RUSTON – Louisiana Tech wraps up the first week of Conference USA play on Saturday at 1 p.m. against WKU inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.  The nationally-televised matchup features the reigning C-USA Division champions and is a rematch of last season's NIT quarterfinal meeting. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 1 | 1 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 107.5 FM | LA Tech Athletics app
Stats: LATechSports.com (HERE)
Series: WKU leads 18-20
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (10-3, 1-0 C-USA)
LA Tech opened conference in impressive fashion, defeating Marshall by a score of 79-56.  The Bulldogs, who extended their home winning streak to 16, held the Thundering Herd to their season low in points (lowest ever in the series) and just 29.4 percent shooting.  It was the lowest field goal percentage by a C-USA opponent since 2015.
 
Cobe Williams and Keaston Willis became the first Bulldog duo since February of 2020 to record 20+ points in the same game.  Williams went for a career-high 22 points while Willis poured in 20, which included a barrage of four three-pointers early in the second half to put the game away.
 
Willis is one of three active Bulldogs averaging double-digit points at 11.4 points per game.  His 34 made triples this season ranks third in C-USA.  Amorie Archibald, averaging 13.5 points, reached double figures in scoring for the fifth straight game with 12 against Marshall.   
 
ABOUT WKU (8-5, 0-0 C-USA)
WKU comes to Ruston having won seven of its last nine games, including victories over Ole Miss and Louisville.  They will be playing their first C-USA game of the season Saturday since their Thursday matchup at Southern Miss was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Golden Eagles' program.
 
The Hilltoppers, picked third in the C-USA preseason poll, are one of the top defensive teams in the league.  They rank sixth in the country in blocks per game (6.6) and 29^th in steals per game (9.5).
 
Four players are averaging double-digit points, led by Maryland transfer Jairus Hamilton at 15.7 per game.  The other three include Dayvion McKnight (13.5), Camron Justice (13.2) and Josh Anderson (11.7).
 
THE SERIES
WKU leads the all-time series, 20-18, which dates back all the way to 1928 when the two met in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) Tournament.  Since becoming C-USA foes, the series has been split at 5-5. 
 
The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings, defeating the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green (63-58) and in Frisco (72-65) last season.  LA Tech has played at WKU twice each of the last two seasons.
 
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