RUSTON – After a week-long Christmas break, Louisiana Tech returns to the hardwood on Thursday night when they host UTSA. LA Tech looks to avoid an 0-2 start to Conference USA play, something that has only happened once since joining the league in 2013-14.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Dec. 29 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Talent: Lyn Rollins (pxp), Chris Mycoskie (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats | LA Tech Athletics app
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (7-5, 0-1 C-USA)
LA Tech snapped its three-game losing skid in a big way, blowing out Jarvis Christian by a final score of 108-52 in their final non-conference game of the season. The Bulldogs exploded for 59 first-half points and then cruised in the second half to a triple-digit total that was the most scored by the program since 2017.
The Bulldogs tied their season high with 12 steals in the win over Jarvis Christian. They have now registered double-digit steals in five of their last six games (six total this season), having already surpassed last season's total of three games with 10+.
All nine Bulldogs that suited up scored with five of them reaching double-digit points --
Dravon Mangum (22),
Isaiah Crawford (20),
Terran Williams (15),
Jordan Crawford (13), and
Keaston Willis (10). For Mangum, it was a career-high 22 points while also making a career-high five three-pointers. He became the sixth Bulldog this season to register a 20-point scoring game.
Jordan Crawford earned his second Conference USA Freshman of the Week honor after recording his first ever double-double with 13 points and a career-high 12 assists in the win over Jarvis Christian. The 12 dimes is the most by any C-USA player this season and tied for the 14th most in the country in a single game (most by any freshman).
Cobe Williams has been the anchor for the Bulldogs both offensively and defensively this season. He is averaging 17.9 points per game, having led the team in scoring five times, to go along with 4.2 assists per game. He is also averaging a team-best 2.80 steals per game, making him one of only four players in the country averaging at least 17 points, four assists and two steals per game.
ABOUT UTSA (6-6, 0-1 C-USA)
UTSA looks to flip a switch after the Christmas break as the Roadrunners have dropped three of their four December games, including a 78-54 loss to North Texas in their C-USA opener. They are still looking for their first road win of the season, having dropped all three away from home.
The Roadrunners, trying to improve on a 10-win season (and a 3-15 C-USA record) from last year, return several players including their leading scorer in center Jacob Germany. The senior was a Conference USA Honorable Mention selection last season.
So far this season, Germany is averaging 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. The Roadrunners are currently led in scoring by newcomer Japhet Medor, a transfer from Hillsborough College, who is averaging 12.3 points per game. He has scored in double figures in four of the last five games, including a 23-point effort at Utah.
UTSA freshman DJ Richards has been named the C-USA Freshman of the Week twice. He did so in back-to-back weeks, first after posting a career-high 20 points at New Mexico and then by tallying 12 points in back-to-back games against Utah and Bethune-Cookman. He has made five starts and is averaging 9.4 points and 4.1 boards per contest.
Offensively, UTSA is one of the best teams in the conference at getting to the free throw line. They average 14.8 made free throws per game, which ranks third in C-USA and 69th nationally.
Defensively, the Roadrunners are the best team in the league at defending the three. Opponents are shooting just 29.3 percent from beyond the arc. Only five of their 12 opponents have been able to shoot over 30 percent from downtown this season and not a single one has been able to make double-digit three-pointers in a game.
THE SERIES
LA Tech and UTSA will meet for the 23rd time on the hardwood Thursday. The two teams will face off again in San Antonio on Jan. 28.
The Bulldogs lead the series, 16-6, having won the last four meetings. LA Tech has swept the series each of the last two seasons, including a 95-71 victory in the last meeting. The Bulldogs jumped all over the Roadrunners, going up 21-3 in route to their second largest win ever in the series, 95-71.
Keaston Willis was on fire, scoring a season-high 30 points while sinking a career-high eight three-pointers, the third most ever in a single game in program history. LA Tech made 13 threes in the victory.
The two squads have been conference foes for the last 10 seasons. In 2012-13, LA Tech and UTSA were both members of the Western Athletic Conference. They both then left to join Conference USA.
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