EL PASO, Texas – Turnovers and poor shooting by Louisiana Tech ended up being the difference in the Conference USA opener as the Bulldogs fell, 60-55, to UTEP on Saturday night inside the Don Haskins Center.
 
LA Tech (6-5, 0-1 C-USA) committed 20 turnovers while shooting just 4-of-25 from beyond the arc, making a season-low 16 field goals. 
 
Despite the free throw discrepancy in the game with UTEP (7-3, 1-0 C-USA) shooting 37 times from the charity stripe to LA Tech's 24, the visiting team still gave themselves a chance to win it. 
 
Down 56-46 with 3:14 to play, the 'Dogs held the Miners without a made field goal for the remainder of the game.  The Miners had plenty of issues from the free throw line as well to help LA Tech creep back into it, making just 15 total (sank just three of 14 in the final three-plus minutes).
 
The Bulldog managed to get within one possession, down three with just 21 seconds remaining, but two made FTs by the Miners iced the game.
 
LA Tech had the lead for only 1:49 of the entire game when it was an early 4-3 advantage.  It was at 14-all with nine minutes remaining in the first half is when UTEP was able to gain some separation, going on a 7-0 run. 
 
Keaston Willis' second of three triples pulled the Bulldogs to within one with 11:55 remaining in the game, but it was another 7-0 run by the Miners to keep the road team at bay.   
 
Cobe Williams registered a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and a career-tying five steals.  Isaiah Crawford nearly registered a double-double with 12 points and nine boards plus four steals of his own.  Willis was the third Bulldog in double figures with 11. 
 
UTEP was led by Tae Hardy who finished with 15. 
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
"It is hard to generate offense when you are turning the ball over.  Turning it over 20 times was really detrimental to what we did.  We have to clean that up.  The other thing was turnovers on poor shots.  Shots that were out of rhythm, things that we do not normally do.  That comes from frustration usually.  When players get frustrated, they try to do things on their own when they should be doing things together.  The effort was there."
 
NOTABLES

• With the 60-55 loss, LA Tech now leads the all-time series over UTEP, 17-14. The Bulldogs suffered their third loss in a row (first time since 2019).
• LA Tech is now 8-2 in C-USA openers.
• The 55 points tied a season low for LA Tech and the 16 made field goals marked a season low.
• The Bulldog defense forced 18 turnovers. They have now forced 15+ turnovers in eight of their 11 games this season.
• The Bulldogs came up with 11 steals, marking the fifth time this season they have tallied double-digit steals (second straight game with 11).
• Cobe Williams anchored the team in scoring for a fifth time this season with 18 points. He now has 956 career points.
• For the 45th time in his career, Keaston Willis sank at least three three-pointers in a single game.
• For the second straight game, Cobe Williams registered five steals (tying his career high). He has now posted at least four steals in five games this season.
• Isaiah Crawford tied his career high with four steals (fourth time in his career). He also pulled down a season-high nine rebounds to lead the team.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns home for its final non-conference game of the season.  The Bulldogs will play host to Jarvis Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 21 with tipoff set for noon inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
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