RUSTON – Louisiana Tech looks to put an end to a two-game losing skid on Thursday night when they play host to WKU in a nationally televised contest.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 19 | 8 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network
Talent: John Sadak (pxp), Mark Turgeon (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats | LA Tech Athletics App
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
GAME PROMOTION
Fans are encouraged to wear white as part of the "White Out" game promotion. All tickets for the blue level are $5 and can be purchased online, at the LA Tech Ticket Office, or at the ticket booth prior to tipoff.
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (10-8, 3-4 C-USA)
LA Tech suffered just its second loss of the season this past Saturday, falling 81-74 to UAB. The Bulldogs had an eight-point lead with under five minutes to go, but the Blazers closed the game out on a 19-4 run. LA Tech got big offensive performances by
Cobe Williams and
Keaston Willis, but UAB dominated the glass to the tune of 21 offensive rebounds that they cashed in for 30 second-chance points.
Williams recorded a career-high 27 points while Willis provided a season-high 23 points. The duo combined to go 14-of-26 from the field (54 percent) and 8-of-16 from behind the arc (50 percent). It marked just the second time since 2017 that a pair of Bulldogs combined to score 50+ points in a single game.
Willis has started to light it up again from three. Over the last four games, the sharpshooter has made 14 of his 23 three-point attempts while averaging 16.0 points per game. Included in this stretch was playing a season-high 43 minutes in the OT win at Rice and all 40 minutes in the matchup versus UAB (first time a Bulldog has played every second of a non-OT game since 2016).
The Big Three of Williams (19.1), Willis (14.4), and
Isaiah Crawford (13.3) are averaging a combined 46.8 points per game during conference play. They have accounted for 66 percent of the Bulldogs scoring in C-USA action, combining for six 20-point scoring performances.
All three rank in the top 15 in scoring during league play only and have set season highs in scoring in the last two games -- Williams with 27 against UAB, Willis with 23 against UAB, and Crawford with 25 versus North Texas.
ABOUT WKU (11-7, 3-4 C-USA)
WKU began conference play with three straight losses, but followed that up with a three consecutive wins over UTSA, UAB, and FIU. However, that winning streak was broken this past Monday as the Hilltoppers fell at home to No. 24 Florida Atlantic, 76-62.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers rank No. 1 in C-USA and 17th in the country in three-point field goal percentage at 38.9 percent. Over their last three games, they are shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc (28-of-61). They are also very good at taking care of the basketball, committing an average of 11.4 turnovers per game (have committed 15+ TOs only three times this season).
On the defensive end, the Hilltoppers rank high in two categories, blocks and field goal percentage defense. They rank sixth in the nation in blocks per game (5.9) and allow their opponents to shoot just 39.6 percent from the field, which is top 30 in the nation.
Dayvion McKnight is the star for the Hilltoppers. The First Team All-Conference USA selection from a year ago does it all, averaging a team-best 17.3 points as well as 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. He has scored in double figures in 10 straight games, averaging 21.4 points per contest during that stretch (five 20-point games).
Another key contributor is center Jamarion Sharp. The reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year is at it again, leading the nation in blocks with 77 (average of 4.3 per game).
THE SERIES
LA Tech and WKU will meet for the 41st time on Thursday with each team having won 20 games each. The Bulldogs tied up the series last season by winning both matchups, each one coming down to the last possession.
In the New Year's Day meeting in Ruston, the Bulldogs overcame a 17-point deficit while getting a go-ahead free throw by
Kenneth Lofton, Jr. with five seconds remaining to win it, 74-73. Then in the C-USA Tournament quarterfinals, Lofton again hit two big free throws with six seconds left to eliminate WKU, 59-57. It ended a streak of three consecutive trips to the tournament finals by the Hilltoppers.
Recent LA Tech-WKU games have become instant classics. Each of the last six meetings have been decided by seven points or less.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Basketball, follow them on Twitter (@LATechHoops), Instagram (@LATechHoops), and Facebook (LATechMBB).
