RUSTON – Louisiana Tech reaches the halfway point of the 20-game Conference USA schedule on Thursday as they play its 10th league game in Birmingham, Alabama against UAB.  The two teams faced off in Ruston less than two weeks ago.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 26 | 8 p.m. CT
Location: Bartow Arena (Birmingham, Ala.)
TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network
Talent: John Sadak (pxp), King McClure (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats | LA Tech Athletics app
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (11-9, 4-5 C-USA)
LA Tech is coming off one of its worst offensive performances of the season, falling at home to Middle Tennessee by a final score of 68-51.  The loss put the Bulldogs in a four-way tie for fifth in the conference standings.
 
The 'Dogs set a new season low in points while also shooting a season-low 14.3 percent from three-point range (went 3-of-21 from beyond the arc).  It was the fewest made three-pointers in almost two years.
 
Cobe Williams was the lone Bulldog to score in double figures, posting a game-high 22 points against the Blue Raiders.  He has now registered 20+ points in three straight games, becoming the first LA Tech player to do so since DaQuan Bracey did it in 2018.  For the season, Williams has recorded eight 20-point scoring performances and is currently averaging 18.7 points per game, which ranks 50th in the nation.
 
LA Tech is set to play four of its next five league games away from home.  So far, they are 1-3 in conference road games with the lone victory coming in an 88-82 overtime win at Rice.  Their three road losses to UTEP, Charlotte, and North Texas in conference play have been by a combined nine points.
 
ABOUT UAB (13-7, 4-5 C-USA)
After coming away with a victory in Ruston over LA Tech, UAB dropped its next two games to Middle Tennessee and North Texas.  The Blazers lost in overtime, 74-73, to the Blue Raiders on the road followed by a 63-52 home loss to the Mean Green.
 
After winning its first three conference games, UAB has lost five of its last six games.  They have been without the reigning C-USA Player of the Year, Jordan Walker, for the last three due to a foot injury.  Walker ranked second in the country in scoring at 23.8 points per game.
 
Despite their recent struggles, the Blazers still own the top scoring offense in C-USA at 83.4 points per game.  They also rank No. 1 in the league and top five in the country in free throw attempts per game (25.0), free throws made per game (18.5), offensive rebounds per game (14.4), and total rebounds per game (41.5).
 
Eric Gaines has stepped up offensively in the absence of Walker.  The LSU transfer and preseason All-Conference USA selection is averaging 17.3 points per game over the last three contests, anchoring UAB in scoring in two of those games.
 
THE SERIES
UAB leads the all-time series over LA Tech, 12-9, having won four straight.  The Bulldogs were in position to snap their losing streak to the Blazers earlier this month, but UAB closed the game out on a 19-4 run to win it, 81-74. 
 
Cobe Williams and Keaston Willis combined for 50 points in that game, but the Blazers owned the glass to the tune of 21 offensive rebounds that resulted in 30 second-chance points.
 
LA Tech is looking to win for just the third time against UAB in Birmingham.  The Bulldogs are 2-8 versus the Blazers in Bartow Arena, with the two wins coming in 2014 and 2020.  
 
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