RUSTON – Louisiana Tech makes its last road trip of the regular season this week, starting with a Thursday night contest at WKU.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 23 | 8 p.m. CT
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena (Bowling Green, Ky.)
TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network
Talent: Dave Ryan (pxp), Mike O'Donnell (analyst)
Stats: LATechSports.com
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (13-14, 6-10 C-USA)
LA Tech could not overcome an 18-point halftime deficit, falling 74-67 to Charlotte this past Saturday in Ruston. It was the fourth straight loss by the Bulldogs, something that previously had happened just once in the last decade. The 49ers ended up shoot­ing 62.2 percent from the field, the highest shooting percentage allowed by LA Tech this season.
 
The Bulldogs have struggled defensively during this four-game losing skid as their opponents are shooting a combined 52.9 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three-point range.
 
Keaston Willis anchored the team in scoring for a second straight game, tallying 17 points against Charlotte. Since coming back from a toe injury three games ago, the sharpshooter is averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three (has made 11 total threes).
 
Isaiah Crawford continues to show off his versatility. Over the seven games, he is averaging 15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. He is also shooting 52.3 percent from the field during this span.
 
LA Tech has been in close game after close game. In fact, 18 of their 27 games this season have been decided by 10 points or less (the most since the 2011-12 season). Unfortunately, the Bulldogs are a combined 6-12 in those games.
 
ABOUT WKU (14-13, 6-10 C-USA)
WKU and Louisiana Tech are tied for eighth in the conference standings with a 6-10 league mark. The Hilltoppers had won three straight, but suffered both losses on the road this past week to Charlotte (68-64) and Rice (83-77). Nine of WKU's 10 conference losses have been by single digits.
 
WKU is a sound team offensively, ranking in the top four in the league in both free throw percentage (73.7) and three-point field goal percentage (36.7). They also take care of the basketball, averaging just 11.2 turnovers per game, which ranks 50th nationally.
The Hilltoppers defense is centered on the tallest player in Division I basketball Ja­marion Sharp who leads the country in total blocks (112) and blocks per game (4.31). His rim protection is also a reason why WKU ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage de­fense at 41.4 percent.
 
Point guard Dayvion McKnight is the engine for the Hilltoppers, averaging 17.1 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Not only does he shoot it well, he gets to the free throw line almost as much as any­one does in C-USA (leads the league in made free throws with 117).
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series over WKU, 21-20.  Thanks to a five-game winning streak by the Bulldogs, they now lead the series for the first time since 1994.
 
In the first meeting this season, LA Tech over­came a 12-point deficit in the second half and then outscored WKU, 11-0, in overtime to take an 85-74 victory in Ruston. It was the first time in recorded history that the Bulldogs shutout an opponent for an entire overtime. It was the fifth OT ever played between LA Tech and WKU in the series history.
 
The Bulldogs and Hilltoppers have grown ac­customed to playing in close games. The last seven contests between the two have been decided by seven points or less or overtime.
 
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