LA Tech vs. UTSA Preview
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (18-7, 9-4 C-USA)
LA Tech shot a season-low 33.9 percent from the field and were limited to its fewest points at home this season in a 63-60 loss to UTEP on Thursday night. The other offensive miscues included committing 16 turnovers and missing 14 free throw attempts.
The Bulldogs did hold the Miners to 39.7 percent shooting, the sixth time this season they have limited a conference foe to under 40 percent. The team continues to lead the league in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 41.1 percent (C-USA games only).
Kenneth Lofton, Jr. registered his 15th double-double of the season (seventh most in the country) with 12 points and 16 rebounds versus the Miners. In doing so, he eclipsed 500 rebounds for his career, taking him only 56 games to do it.
Cobe Williams tallied a team-high 19 points against UTEP, tying his career-high with 16 field goal attempts. He is averaging 13.9 points per game during conference play and has scored at least 15 points in seven of the team’s 13 league contests.
ABOUT UTSA (9-18, 2-12 C-USA)
UTSA put an end to its five-game losing skid on Thursday with a 98-79 overtime win at Southern Miss, the program’s first ever win in Hattiesburg. The Roadrunners outscored the Golden Eagles, 22-3, in the five-minute OT period.
They continue to be one of the top rebounding teams in the country, ranking first in C-USA and top 25 in the nation in rebounds per game (39.52) and offensive rebounds per game (13.74).
The Roadrunners are led offensively by Jordan Ivy-Curry (14.6 points per game), Jacob Germany (14.5 points per game) and Dhieu Deing (14.3 points per game). The trio have combined for 53 percent of UTSA’s scoring.
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series over UTSA, 15-6. The Bulldogs have won three straight over the Roadrunners, including the 79-63 victory in San Antonio back on Jan. 8. In that game, Amorie Archibald had a career outing with 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting.
The Bulldogs are 8-2 all-time against the Roadrunners in Ruston, having won three straight. UTSA won games in the TAC in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018.
