RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech Men's Basketball team begins a stretch of three straight home games, including back-to-back contests at home versus Southern Utah and McNeese State as part of a multi-team event.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Southern Utah
Date/Time: Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 3 p.m. CT
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Talent: Lyn Rollins (pxp), Victor Howell (analyst)
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
Talent: Malcolm Butler (pxp), Jack Thigpen (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
 
Opponent: McNeese State
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 3 p.m. CT
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Talent: Lyn Rollins (pxp), Victor Howell (analyst)
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
Talent: Malcolm Butler (pxp), Jack Thigpen (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (2-1)
LA Tech continued its dominance over long-time rival ULM this past Thursday, defeating the Warhawks, 73-63, inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.  It was the 11th straight win over ULM and the fifth straight in Monroe. 
 
The Bulldogs trailed for only 37 seconds in the game but needed some timely plays to keep the Warhawks at bay.  One of those Bulldogs making the timely plays was Isaiah Crawford who finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.  This came after a 21-point effort against Lyon College, marking the third time in his career with back-to-back 20+ scoring performances.
 
Crawford is currently averaging 17.0 points per game, right behind scoring-leader Jaylin Henderson who is averaging 17.3 points.  The junior newcomer came off the bench to tally 12 points against ULM, the third straight game in double figures for the guard.
 
Other newcomers continued to shine for LA Tech as well.  Sean Newman Jr. is averaging a team-high 28.7 minutes played and currently has a 5.33 assist/turnover ratio at the point guard position with 16 assists to only three turnovers.  Also, Daniel Batcho made his Bulldog debut versus ULM, recording 12 points and four rebounds after having his waiver for immediate eligibility approved by the NCAA.
 
ABOUT SOUTHERN UTAH (1-2)
Southern Utah pounded Life Pacific at home by a score of 108-73.  That first victory of the season was sandwiched in between narrow road losses to Cal State Bakersfield (73-72) and Utah State (93-84).
 
The Thunderbirds, which are averaging 88.0 points per game so far this season, have five players who are double-figure scorers.  At the head of the pack is Prophet Johnson who is averaging 16.3 points thanks in large part to his back-to-back performances against Life and Utah State when he scored 22 and 24, respectively.
 
Also averaging double-digit points through three games are Dominique Ford (15.7), Zion Young (13.0), Braden Housley (12.7), and Parsa Fallah (11.3).
 
SUU was picked to finish ninth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll.  They won 24 games last season, finishing third in the WAC and advancing to the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
 
ABOUT MCNEESE STATE (4-1)
McNeese State opened its season with four straight victories, including a season-opening upset win at VCU by a score of 76-65.  The Cowboys backed that up with three straight blowout wins at home against College of Biblical Studies, Champion Christian, and LeTourneau. 
 
McNeese did suffer its first loss of the season this past Saturday, falling 76-74 on the road at Western Carolina.  They will face off against Texas State in a neutral-site game in the TAC on Tuesday before going up against LA Tech on Wednesday.
 
The Cowboys are averaging 87.4 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field.  They have dominated the glass so far with a +9.8 rebounding margin and are forcing their opponents to average 17.8 turnovers per game.
 
Shahada Wells, a TCU transfer guard, is averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game.  He was one of three players voted preseason all-conference while McNeese was picked to finish second in the Southland Conference preseason poll under first-year head coach Will Wade.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series against SUU, 1-0.  The lone meeting came during the 1998-99 season when the Bulldogs bested the Thunderbirds in overtime, 76-68, in the second game of the Cougar Classic in Provo, Utah. 
 
Southern Utah will be one of four WAC opponents that LA Tech will face this season.  The Bulldogs will later go on the road to take on Grand Canyon, Stephen F. Austin, and Seattle U who are projected to finish 1-2-3 in the WAC preseason poll.
 
LA Tech leads the all-time series over McNeese State, 55-39.  The two in-state schools last met a decade ago in 2013 when the Bulldogs prevailed, 64-50, in Ruston.  LA Tech will also host SLC opponents Nicholls State and Southeastern later in non-conference.
 
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