RUSTON – Louisiana Tech dominated from start to finish Sunday afternoon, shooting a blistering 65.4 percent from the field in an 89-37 non-conference victory over Ecclesia College inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
LA Tech (5-3) controlled every phase, using a 25-2 run to race out to a 40-11 halftime lead while limiting Ecclesia to just four first-half field goals.  The Bulldogs extended the margin to as many as 52, which was the final margin of victory as LA Tech remained undefeated at home.
 
Kaden Cooper led all scorers with 20 points, going 8-of-10 from the floor while adding three steals and three blocks in a complete two-way performance.  Avery Thomas II poured in 17 points, draining four three-pointers as LA Tech connected on a season-high 11 triples at a 45.8 percent clip.
 
AJ Bates finished with 14 points and a career-best 10 assists, nothing his first ever double-double to spearhead a Bulldog offense that totaled 24 assists on 34 made baskets.  DJ Dudley was the fourth LA Tech player to score in double figures, added 12 points in his first start as a Bulldog.
 
LA Tech overwhelmed Ecclesia in the paint, owning a 42-8 scoring advantage at the rim.  The Bulldogs also owned the glass against the Royals, winning the rebounding edge 46-17.  Cooper and Thomas II each provided eight boards while Will Jeffress pulled down a game-high nine.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the win…
"We need to keep cleaning up what we do.  This is a long process, a long season, and our goal to is get better every day.  This is not going to click overnight.  We must keep taking steps towards being great.  We turned the ball over too much.  Rebounding we were fine, shooting we were fine except for the free throw line.  There is a feel that you have as a coach that you know what your team should look like.  We are on our way there.  If we can keep growing, keep defending, keep playing hard, we will get there."
 
On dominating the glass…
"We knew we would not have as many offensive rebounds being that we were probably going to see the ball go in more.  We wanted to be dominant on the glass, give them one shot.  I think our intensity backed off in the second half.  Late in the game, it was more about our maturity."
 
On AJ Bates performance…
"He is growing.  It is the battle of him running the team and him making the right play.  I want him to have a good handle of the team.  As he grows, you are going to see him become even more dynamic."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus Ecclesia College, 1-0, in what was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
• LA Tech held Ecclesia to a season-low 37 points, tied for the fifth fewest allowed by the Bulldogs since 1950.  It is the fifth opponent this season to not score over 60.  For the third time this season, the 'Dogs never trailed in the contest.
• The Bulldogs set season highs in field goal percentage (65.4), three-point field goal percentage (45.8), made three-pointers (11), and assists (24).
• LA Tech tied its season high with eight blocks, something the Bulldogs have done three times this season.
• LA Tech held Ecclesia to 24.1 percent shooting from the field and 19.0 percent shooting from three-point range, both season lows for a Bulldog opponent.  Not a single opponent this season has shot over 30 percent from beyond the arc this season against LA Tech.
• LA Tech had its fourth different starting lineup in eight games this season.
• The LA Tech bench registered 37 points, marking the sixth time this season with 35+ points (six of the last seven games).
• The Bulldogs scored 42 points in the paint, marking the third time in the last four games with 40+.
• Kaden Cooper scored a game-high 20 points, his second career 20+ scoring performance as a Bulldog.  He has scored in double figures a team-high five times this season.  The junior also tied his career high with three blocks and had a season-high three steals.
• AJ Bates tallied his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists.  He made three triples, giving him multiple three-pointers in four games this season.
• DJ Dudley scored in double figures for the fourth straight contest, netting 12 points.  He also pulled down a season-high five rebounds.
• Avery Thomas II was one shy of tying his season high, netting 17 points.  He tied his season high with four made three-pointers.
• Will Jeffress, making his first start of the season, pulled down a season-high nine rebounds.  It is the second straight game the graduate senior has led the Bulldogs on the boards.
• Scooter Williams registered a season-high six assists.
• Keegan Rowell scored his first points as a Bulldog, netting five points on 2-of-2 shooting.   

UP NEXT
LA Tech will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 13 when the Bulldogs play host to rival UL-Lafayette in the TAC.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
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