RUSTON – Louisiana Tech protected the Thomas Assembly Center yet again, pulling away late to defeat UTEP, 68-54, on Thursday night behind the tandem of Daniel Batcho and Tahlik Chavez.
 
Batcho has arguably his best performance as a Bulldog, registering a near triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high seven blocks.  His running mate, Chavez, was his usual shot-making self, making some daggers late in route to 18 points.
 
LA Tech's (14-6, 4-1 CUSA) unbeaten record at home did not come easy though as UTEP (11-9, 2-3 CUSA) did what it does best and that is force turnovers.  They forced 18 of them and turned them into 14 points.
 
However, the Bulldogs halfcourt defense was elite, holding the Miners to just 29.5 percent shooting from the field and 17.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
 
It was that defense that allowed LA Tech to go on a 16-1 burst in the first half to take a 26-15 advantage, capped off by a putback layup from Isaiah Crawford.  It was a stretch where UTEP did not make a single point in the span of six minutes.
 
That is when the Miners really started to force turnovers, countering with an 8-0 run of their own to get back to within three.  The visiting team ultimately found themselves down 34-27 at halftime.
 
They used more forced turnovers to go on a 7-0 run to make it a two-score game at 48-46 with 8:35 remaining in the game.  That was as close as UTEP would get as LA Tech punched back with an 8-0 run, sparked by Batcho's and-one conversion.  Then it was Chavez who helped seal with team's fourth straight victory, scoring 10 points in the final seven minutes including two dagger three-pointers.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On pulling away late …
"Our guys put their foot down.  Tahlik Chavez came into the huddle and said [UTEP] wanted it more than us.  Then I said, 'You guys do something about it.'  From that moment on, the team made some really good plays.  I think the play that was really big was the bounce pass to [Daniel] Batcho who scored and got fouled.  We started rolling from there.  It is all predicated on us getting stops."
 
On the halfcourt defense …
"When you have a big guy in the middle to protect your rim, it helps your basketball team.  I don't care if you are Kentucky, Kansas, or Prairie View A&M, when you have somebody to help you protect the paint it lets your guys press up on the ball, be more physical on the ball."
 
On Daniel Batcho's rim protection …
"His timing, his ability to chase balls down, his recovery, his athleticism.  The guy can move like he is 6-2, but he is 6-11.  It is a luxury and a joy to have him.  He wasn't bad offensively either.  He is a special player and I am glad we have him."
 
On the turnovers …
"That is what UTEP does.  They are second in the country in forcing turnovers and we expected that.  We have to be more solid, play off stops, just clean up little things.  We just need to keep believing in us."
 
Forward Daniel Batcho
 
On gaining confidence in league play …
"We are just taking it one day at a time, get focused on each practice.  We are just trying to get better every day."
 
On approaching the battles in the paint …
"I enjoy the physicality, I love it.  It is ups and downs.  I am just getting in the gym."
 
On being on this team …
"I love it.  I knew I was going to have more playing time than I have had.  That is what I wanted to do, come here and work on my game.  I think we can make history.  I think this team is special."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus UTEP, 19-14.  The Bulldogs improved to 12-2 against the Miners in Ruston.
• LA Tech improved to 10-0 at home this season.
• The Bulldogs won their fourth straight conference game, marking the ninth time in the last 11 seasons the team has had at least one four-game winning streak in CUSA play.
• The Bulldogs held the Miners to 29.5 percent shooting from the field, the second lowest this season.  It marked the 12th time this season LA Tech has held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting.
• LA Tech held UTEP to 17.6 percent shooting from three, the second lowest this season.
• LA Tech tallied 45 rebounds, the 10th time this season with at least 40 in a single game.
• The Bulldogs recorded nine blocks, the fourth time this season the 'Dogs have had at least nine rejections in a single game.
• Daniel Batcho tallied his eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with a career-high seven blocks.  His seven blocks is tied for the seventh most in a single game in Bulldog history (matched Isaiah Crawford's seven blocks against Liberty earlier this season).
• Tahlik Chavez registered 18 points, the 11th time this season scoring in double figures.  In doing so, he eclipsed 1,000 career points for his Division I career.
• Tahlik Chavez buried three triples, marking the 12th time this season making at least three three-pointers from behind the arc.  He has done so in six of the last seven games.
• Sean Newman Jr. dished out six assists, marking the 13th time this season with at least four assists in a single game.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns to the TAC on Saturday, Jan. 27 to face New Mexico State.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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