RUSTON – Louisiana Tech begins its 99th season as a men's basketball program Tuesday as the Bulldogs open up on the road at Nevada.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 9 p.m. CT
Location: Lawlor Events Center (Reno, Nev.)
TV: Mountain West Network
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH
Talvin Hester enters his fourth season at the helm at LA Tech. In his third year, Hester guided the Bulldogs to a 20-win season, marking the 30th time in program history the team has reached 20+ victories. This was the second straight season Hester led the team to 20 wins, going 22-10 in 2013-14.
 
It is practically a brand-new roster for LA Tech as 10 newcomers joined the squad, including eight transfers and two high school signees.  LA Tech lost 78.5 percent of its scoring from a season ago, in­cluding its top four scorers.  The biggest piece to replace, literally, is 6-foot-11 Daniel Batcho who graduated following a two-year stint where he was a two-time First Team All-CUSA selection, CUSA Newcomer of the Year, and CUSA Defensive Player of the Year.
 
The Bulldogs return just four players from last season's 20-win team, including junior Kaden Cooper who was one of 10 players voted to the Conference USA All-Preseason Team.  He emerged as one of the most versatile two-way players in the league last season following a transfer from Oklahoma.  He started in 30 games, averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game while also pacing LA Tech in total steals with 48.  
 
Will Allen is back for his fifth year with the program (redshirted his first year due to a shoulder injury).  The 24-year-old who grad­uated this past summer brings a wealth of leadership to a fresh roster.  He will also be counted on for his experience on the court where he has seen action in 89 career games for the Bulldogs, including 20 starts.
 
ABOUT NEVADA
Nevada is coming off a 17-win season and is guided by seventh-year head coach Steve Al­ford.  The Wolf Pack were picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll behind San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, and UNLV.
 
Nevada played two exhibitions and won both.  First, the Wolf Pack went on the road and de­feated Utah in an 80-77 thriller. Corey Camper Jr., a transfer guard from UTEP, led the Wolf Pack in scoring with 18 points.  Nevada then hosted Eastern Washington, claiming a 73-52 victory.
 
Forward Elijah Price was selected to the Pre­season All-Mountain West Team for this sea­son.  He had an impressive freshman cam­paign for the Wolf Pack last season, starting in 32 games while averaging 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
 
THE SERIES
Nevada leads the all-time series against LA Tech, 19-6.  This will mark the first-ever non-conference meeting between LA Tech and Nevada as all 25 of the previous matchups came as Western Athletic Conference opponents (2001-12).  Three of the Bulldogs six wins over the Wolf Pack have come in Reno, includ­ing back-to-back victories in 2002 and 2003 and a 2009 win that snapped a 12-game losing skid to Nevada.
 
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