EL PASO, Texas – Louisiana Tech packed its defense again as the Bulldogs pulled off another conference road win, defeating UTEP by a final score of 65-59 on Thursday night inside the Don Haskins Center.
 
Neither team could separate from the other the entire game.  LA Tech (19-8, 9-3 CUSA) had the lead for 16 minutes and 23 seconds while UTEP (13-14, 4-8 CUSA) held the advantage for 16 minutes and 31 seconds.
 
In the midst of all of it was nine ties and 18 lead changes.  One of those lead changes was when the Miners made one of their eight three-pointers to go up 31-29 at halftime.
 
Outside of Tahlik Chavez and Isaiah Crawford scoring the Bulldogs first 19 points of the game, not much else was going in the basket for the road team including zero free throws on zero free throw attempts.
 
It was a one-possession game in the second half all the way up to 1:54 remaining in the game when Chavez pulled down one of his career-high nine rebounds and got the putback to go to give the 'Dogs a 59-55 edge.
 
The Miners responded with a layup in the paint to get back to within two points and even had a fastbreak opportunity to tie or take the lead after forcing their 18th turnover of the game.  However, Chavez raced down and got the steal, which turned into a bucket by Daniel Batcho to make it 61-57.
 
Defensive stands and four straight free throws made by Sean Newman Jr. and Chavez secured the win.
 
Chavez finished with a game-high 20 points, going 4-of-9 from downtown.  Crawford was steady as well, tallying 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.  Batcho, making his return after missing the last two games, registered 11 points, five boards, and five blocks.  Another Bulldog returning to the court, Newman Jr., dished out six assists.
 
UTEP was held to 38.7 percent shooting from the field, getting a team-high 16 points off the bench from Derick Hamilton.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the road win …
"We did not give up.  We kept fighting.  Even when it looked grim and looked like we could not get anything to work, we stayed true to who we are … that is defense.  We kept fighting to get stops.  We had some huge guys step up for us."
 
On owning the glass …
"It was critical so that we did not give them second-chance opportunities.  We dominated the glass, which gave us a chance with all the turnovers they were forcing.  It helped us and made us better.  This is probably my favorite win of the year so far.  It was on the road and it was tough."
 
On the last four minutes …
"The ball was not going in so I figured if we were going to win it would have to be on the defensive end.  When we got the lead, I just started thinking about how we can run clock, but UTEP takes you out of moving the ball around.  I started calling sets not to turn the ball over.  We started getting fouled, getting to the free throw line, and making free throws."
 
On Will Allen …
"I would put this one up there as Will Allen's best game of his career.  The magnitude of this game and when we needed him, he goes out and gets double-digit rebounds.  I promise he had four or five more tip outs."
 
NOTABLES

• With the 65-59 win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus UTEP, 20-14.  The Bulldogs have won three straight over the Miners.
• LA Tech improved to 13-6 against UTEP since becoming CUSA opponents (6-5 in El Paso).
• LA Tech won its fourth CUSA road game of the season, the most of any team in the league.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded the Miners, 45-28 (20th time this season outrebounding its opponent).  It was the 12th time this season LA Tech recorded 40+ rebounds. 
• LA Tech held UTEP to 38.7 percent shooting from the field, the 17th time this season holding an opponent to under 40 percent.
• LA Tech held UTEP to 59 points, the seventh time holding a CUSA opponent under 60 points.
• Tahlik Chavez scored a game-high 20 points, his seventh game this season of 20+ points (second straight).  He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
• Isaiah Crawford registered 19 points, reaching double-digit points for the 22nd time this season.  He has scored 10+ points in 16 of the last 17 games.
• Daniel Batcho returned from missing two games to score 11 points, the 19th time this season reaching double-digit points.  He also recorded five blocks, the 11th time this season with at least three rejections.  He now has 56 blocks for the season, the 12th most in program history.
• Will Allen pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds.
• Sean Newman Jr. dished out six assists in his return, the 15th time this season with at least five assists in a single game.
• Tahlik Chavez knocked down four three-pointers, giving him 71 for the season (tied for the eighth most in a single season in program history.
• Isaiah Crawford registered one steal giving him 60 for the season, tied for the ninth most in program history.
• Isaiah Crawford now ranks 23rd in program history in career points (1,417) and 17th in career assists (236).

UP NEXT
LA Tech now heads to Las Cruces, New Mexico to take on the Aggies of New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 24.  Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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