RUSTON – Louisiana Tech looks to split its conference games this week as the Bulldogs host league leader Jacksonville State on Saturday inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. LA Tech is currently in sixth in the league standings with six games to go.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 15 | 3 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Tickets: LATechSports.com/FlashSale ($5 tickets – online only)
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (17-8, 6-6 CUSA)
LA Tech was held to a season low in points as the Bulldogs had their eight-game home winning streak snapped on Thursday in a 69-47 loss to Kennesaw State. It was the fewest points scored at home by the 'Dogs since 2011 and the second fewest ever scored in a CUSA game.
 
It was the LA Tech bench that did the bulk of the scoring against Kennesaw State, providing 26 of the team's 47 points. The starters have typically done most of the scoring this season, responsible for 70 percent of the team's points. It was the fifth time in conference play that the Bulldog bench has scored 20+ points.
 
Al Green was the lone Bulldog to score in double figures against the Owls, tallying 11 points which was his ninth dou­ble-digit scoring game of the season and the fifth time leading LA Tech in scoring. As the primary sixth man off the bench, Green is averaging 10.3 points over the last eight games while shooting 50.0 percent from three-point range (18-of-36). For the season, he is averaging 8.8 points while shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Sean Newman Jr. ranks top three in the country in both total assists (214) and assists per game (8.6). His four assists against Kennesaw State brought his season assists total to 214, which ranks as the fourth most in program history. His streak of 17 consecutive games with at least five dimes was snapped in the loss to KSU, ending as second longest streak in school history. He has recorded at least five dimes in 23 of the 25 games played this season.
 
Daniel Batcho continues to be the nation's leader in field goal percentage at 69.5 percent. If the season ended today, it would break the program record for best shooting percentage in a single season and would be the second best in Conference USA history. He is averaging a team-best 17.8 points per game this season.
 
Batcho also now has 56 blocks on the season, 11th most in the country. The two blocks against Kennesaw State brought his Bulldog career total to 123, tied for the sixth most in program history. It marked the 15th time this season he has had multiple blocks in a single game (averaging 2.6 rejections over his last five games).
 
ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (17-8, 9-3 CUSA)
After opening up CUSA play with two losses in its first three league games, Jacksonville State rattled off eight straight victories to vault itself to the top of the conference standings. That winning streak came to an end on Thurs­day night as the Gamecocks fell, 66-61, at Sam Houston.
 
Part of Jax State's success has been its abili­ty to win close games. The Gamecocks have had eight of their 12 league contests decided by eight points or less and are 7-1 in those games. The lone loss was the 5-point defeat to the Bearkats. Leading by six with 6:22 remaining, Sam Hous­ton went on a 14-3 run to defeat Jax State. De­spite the loss, the Cocks remain in sole posses­sion of first place in CUSA.
 
LA Tech will be facing another tough rebound­ing team as Jax State excels in that category. The Gamecocks rank top 30 in the country in rebounds per game (39.24), defensive re­bounds per game (28.44), and rebounding margin (6.9).
 
The Bulldogs will have to figure out a way to slow down the top scorer in CUSA in Jaron Pierre Jr. The shooting guard is averaging 21.2 points per game this season, fifth most in the coun­try. He scores it at all three levels, shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from three-point range, and 79.6 percent from the foul line.
 
Pierre Jr. was recently named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week and CUSA Play­er of the Week after averaging 32 points per game in the Gamecocks wins over Middle Ten­nessee and WKU.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech and Jax State faced off twice last sea­son for the first time ever with the Gamecocks joining Conference USA. The Bulldogs pre­vailed in both contests, winning 74-57 in Jack­sonville while also claiming a 63-58 victory in Ruston.
 
The Gamecocks got their first win in the series about a month ago though, holding off the Bulldogs for a 2-point home win.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Basketball, follow us on X (@LATechHoops), Instagram (@LATechHoops), and Facebook (LATechMBB).