RUSTON – Louisiana Tech looks to extend its five-game winning streak on Thursday night when the Bulldogs take on FIU in Miami at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 1 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center (Miami, Fla.)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (15-6, 5-1 CUSA)
After holding a five-point lead at halftime, LA Tech opened the second half on a 13-2 run. The lead grew to as much as 22 as the Bulldogs won, 73-53, over New Mexico State to help stay atop the conference standings. It marked win No. 15 for the Bulldogs, matching last season's win total. It also kept LA Tech undefeated at home this season, having won all 11 in the Thomas Assembly Center.
 
It was another stellar defensive effort for the Bulldogs who held the Aggies to 32.8 percent shooting. It marked the 13th time this season LA Tech has held its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. The 'Dogs have held four of their five CUSA opponents to less than 60 points. They currently rank No. 1 in conference play in defensive efficiency while ranking top 10 in the country in both field goal percentage defense (38.6) and scoring defense (63.2).
 
LA Tech tied its season high with 49 rebounds against New Mexico State. The Bulldogs rank in the top 40 in the country in rebounds per game (39.90), having pulled down 40+ boards 11 times. They have outrebounded their opponent in 16 of the 21 games.
 
Isaiah Crawford scored a game-high 25 points versus the Aggies, tallying his sixth 20+ scoring performance of the season (tied for the third most in CUSA). For the season, he is averaging 16.0 points but in league play he has upped that to 18.7 points. Over the last four games, the forward is averaging 21.5 points per contest.
 
Daniel Batcho registered his ninth double-double of the season, recording 12 points and a career-tying 16 rebounds against New Mexico State (next most in CUSA is three). He is aver­aging 14.7 points and 10.4 boards per game, one of only 10 players in the nation averaging a double-double. The forward ranks in the top 20 in the country in rebounds per game and blocks per game with a CUSA-leading 45 rejections.
 
LA Tech has strung together five straight wins for the second time this season (first time since 2014-15 having multiple winning streaks of at least five games). During the streak, the trio of Isaiah Crawford, Daniel Batcho, and Tahlik Chavez have combined to average 48.8 points. Defensively, the team is holding opponents to 58.4 points per game.
 
ABOUT FIU (7-14, 2-4 C-USA)
FIU enters Thursday having dropped three straight, all of which came on the road against Liberty, WKU, and most recently Middle Ten­nessee in a 79-61 defeat.
 
The Panthers have played four of their first six league games on the road, tied for the most with MTSU. Both of FIU's CUSA victories came at home, besting New Mexico State (77-67) and UTEP 72-68). Overall, they are 6-3 at home this season and just 1-11 in road/neutral site games.
 
FIU ranks second in CUSA in scoring offense, averaging 76.2 points per game. A good chunk of their damage comes from the three-point line where they shoot 34.6 percent, hav­ing made 187 threes which is the second most in the league.
 
The anchor of that three-point shooting has been Javaunte Hawkins who is averaging a team-best 12.8 points per game while shoot­ing 42.4 percent from behind the arc, a per­centage that ranks first in CUSA and 23rd in the country. During league play, he has upped that average to 15.7 points per game.
 
As has become customary for an FIU team, the Panthers get after you defensively with their constant pressure. They average 11.3 steals per game while forcing 18.5 turnovers per contest, both of which rank in the top five in the country.
 
The primary cause for the pressure is reigning CUSA Freshman of the Year Arturo Dean who leads the nation in totals steals (81) and steals per game (3.86). He has recorded multiple steals in 19 of the 21 games this season, hav­ing tallied 19 in the six league contests so far.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series versus FIU, 11-8.  Recent history says that Thursday's game is going to be a close one.  The last six meetings (every matchup since the 2019-20 season) has been decided by five points or less. 
 
The last two matchups between the Bulldogs and Panthers went into overtime with LA Tech prevailing in both, including one in the CUSA Tournament.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Basketball, follow us on Twitter (@LATechHoops), Instagram (@LATechHoops), and Facebook (LATechMBB).