RUSTON – Louisiana Tech goes for a home sweep this week as the Bulldogs play host to the Liberty Flames on Saturday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court in the annual "White Out" game.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 11 | 7 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.)
TV: ESPNU | ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (12-4, 1-2 CUSA)
LA Tech claimed its first CUSA win of the season on Thursday, defeating FIU by a final score of 81-64. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 25-4 lead and held a 50-27 halftime advantage to help propel them to their fifth straight victory over the Panthers. The team shot 70.0 percent from the field (21-of-30) in the first half (first time shooting at least 70 percent in a half since Jan. 27, 2018 against Southern Miss).
 
The Bulldogs got back to defending, holding the Panthers to 64 points, their fewest points in the last nine games. Since last season, LA Tech is 28-1 when holding its opponent to less than 70 points (9-0 this season).
 
Al Green came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points against FIU, knocking down his first five three-pointers which tied his season high. The junior was able to get out of a shooting slump, having totaled just 30 points and only five triples in the last six games combined. He is now only five points away from 1,000 points for his collegiate career. The bench help has been needed as LA Tech starters have accounted for 76.1 percent of scoring this season (bench is averaging 18.4 points per game).
 
Against a pesky FIU defense, Sean Newman Jr. still managed to dish out 13 assists with only two turnovers. It marked the seventh time this season he has had 10+ assists and the fourth time with 12+ (most in the country). In doing so, he became the 15th Bulldog in program history to reach 300 career assists (has already surpassed his assist total of 146 from last season). He continues to rank second in the country in both total assists (154) and assists per game (9.6).
 
Daniel Batcho was his usual self on offense, going 7-of-8 from the field for 16 points against FIU, bringing his field goal per­centage up to 75.7 which leads the country. The CUSA Preseason Player of the Year has now shot at least 80 percent in a game nine times this season and over the last six games is shooting 81.3 percent. He was his usual self on defense as well, tallying two blocks against the Panthers to give him 38 for the season which ranks seventh in the nation.
 
Kaden Cooper was on the glass again, leading the Bulldogs in rebounding for the 11th time this season with eight boards versus the Panthers. The 6-foot-5 guard has posted at least eight rebounds in 11 games this season and currently ranks top four in CUSA in both total rebounds (123) and rebounds per game (7.7).
 
ABOUT LIBERTY (14-2, 2-1 CUSA)
Liberty has arguably been the best team in Conference USA so far this season, sporting a 14-2 overall record. The Flames dropped just one non-conference game, an overtime loss to Florida Atlantic. Outside of that, they won 12 contests including victories over UL-Lafay­ette, Kansas State, and McNeese State to win the Paradise Jam.
 
The Flames did have their nine-game winning streak snapped in the CUSA opener, falling 71-70 at home to WKU. Liberty was up 12 with 5:30 to go, but the Hilltoppers staged a furi­ous comeback. The team has since rebounded with league victories of 73-63 and 76-68 over Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston, respec­tively.
 
Liberty checks in as one of the top offensive teams in the country. The Flames rank top 20 in the nation in several categories including field goal percentage (49.9), assists per game (17.8), and three-pointers made per game (10.9).
 
LU has made at least 10 threes in 10 games this season, including in seven of its last nine contests. For as much attention as Liberty gets for its defense, the Flames currently rank seventh in the nation in scoring defense allowing teams to score just 59.9 points per game. Only three opponents this season have scored 70+ points against Liberty.
 
Liberty enters Saturday with five players av­eraging double-digit points. Guard Kaden Metheny, a Third Team All-CUSA selection last season, has been the top scorer for the Flames this season averaging 14.3 points per game, having made 51 three-pointers which is the 12th most in the country.
 
Zach Cleveland, a Second Team All-CUSA hon­oree a season ago, is right behind Metheny averaging 11.5 points while also leading LU in rebounds with 7.1 boards per game.
 
THE SERIES
The series is tied between LA Tech and Liberty, 1-1.  The two teams faced off twice last season for the first time ever and both were classics.
 
In the first matchup in Ruston, the Bulldogs pulled out an 80-76 overtime thriller.  Then when the two met again in Lynchburg, the Flames pulled out a 65-62 victory in the final seconds.
 
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