RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech men's basketball team returns from Christmas break to take on Grand Canyon on Saturday night inside Global Credit Union Arena. The Bulldogs have just two non-conference games remaining before starting league play.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 30 | 7 p.m. CT
Location: Global Credit Union Arena (Phoenix, Ariz.)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Barry Buetel (pxp), Scott Williams (analyst)
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (9-4)
Only four days after losing a heartbreaker on a buzzer-beating three to Saint Louis, the Bulldogs suffered another tough loss. This one came in overtime, falling 79-73 at Seattle U. All four of LA Tech's losses this season have been by single digits.
 
The Bulldogs did enough defensively, holding the Redhawks to just 37.5 percent shooting (the ninth opponent this season held to less than 38 percent). LA Tech also produced a season-high nine blocks, which was the most by the Bulldogs in four years.
 
After registering 18 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks at Saint Louis, Daniel Batcho upped his game against Seattle U with a career-high 24 points, 16 boards, and four rejections. It marked his sixth double-double of the season, tied for 14th most in the country. The forward also ranks eighth in the nation in rebounds per game (10.8) and 28th in blocks per game (2.18).
 
It took 96 games, but Isaiah Crawford finally registered his first collegiate dou­ble-double, recording 18 points and a career-high 14 rebounds at Seattle U. He also tied his career high with three blocks. Crawford now needs just nine more rebounds to become the first player in program history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals, and 50 blocks. He recently became the first Bulldog to rank in the top 10 in career steals and career blocks.
 
LA Tech pulled down 15 more offensive rebounds at Seattle U, the 10th time this season with double-digit offensive boards. The Bulldogs have recorded 12+ offensive rebounds in each of the last four games, averaging 14.5 offensive boards. As a result, the 'Dogs are averaging 15.3 second-chance points during this span.
 
ABOUT GRAND CANYON (11-1)
Grand Canyon, who was picked to win the WAC in the preseason poll, enters Saturday having won eight straight games, the eighth longest ac­tive winning streak in the country. Their lone loss came all the way back on Nov. 19 in a neu­tral site game against South Carolina.
During their winning streak, the Lopes have picked up key victories over San Diego State and Liberty.  Most recently, GCU were winners over Sam Houston and Bethesda, who they defeated 124-74 this past Wednesday.
 
GCU is undefeated at home this season with a 6-0 mark. In the last three plus seasons, the Lopes are 45-9 at home.
 
The Lopes have one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 83.4 points per game. Their 48.5 shooting percentage ranks 39th in the country. They also get to the foul line a ton, av­eraging 19.2 made free throws a game which is the ninth most in the nation.
 
GCU is stellar defensively as well, averaging 5.6 blocks per game which ranks 17th in the country. They also excel on the boards, av­eraging 40.75 rebounds per game that also ranks in the top 50 in the nation.
 
Tyon Grant-Foster is the engine of the Lopes, averaging 20.9 points per game. He has post­ed six 20+ scoring performances this season. GCU is his fourth stop, having played at Indian Hills CC, Kansas, and DePaul.  Other key pieces for GCU are Preseason All- WAC selections Ray Harrison Jr. and Gabe Mc­Glothan. The duo average 14.1 and 13.0 points per game, respectively.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the first ever meeting between LA Tech and Grand Canyon.  The Bulldogs have had limited action against teams from the state of Arizona, having faced Arizona, Arizona State, and Northern Arizona each one time. 
 
It will mark the third time this non-conference the Bulldogs will face a team away from home that cur­rently ranks in the top 50 of the NET rankings (Colorado State 16 and New Mexico 35).
 
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