RUSTON – Louisiana Tech starts the back half of Conference USA play on Thursday night when they play at Liberty.  The Bulldogs and Flames are part of a six-way tie for third in the league standings.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 6 | 7 p.m. CT
Location: Liberty Arena (Lynchburg, Va.)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (16-6, 5-4 CUSA)
After dropping four of its first six league games, LA Tech took advantage of a three-game home stand by winning all three including a 66-61 overtime victory against Sam Houston this past Saturday. After forcing OT with a late 7-0 run, the 'Dogs used another 7-0 in the extra frame to pull out the win. The team is 7-3 in OT games under head coach Talvin Hester.
 
The Bulldogs had arguably their best defensive performance of the season, holding the best three-point shooting team in the league to 30.4 percent from beyond the arc. After going down six with 14:27 left in the second half, LA Tech held Sam Houston to just two made fields the remainder of the stanza. Defensively, the Bulldogs also registered nine steals and seven blocks, both being the most in a CUSA game for LA Tech this season.
 
Sean Newman Jr. registered a game-high 22 points to go along with eight assists versus the Bearkats (has three games this season of 20+ points and 8+ assists). Even though his string of 28 consecutive made free throws ended in the game against Sam Houston, he went a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line in OT to secure the win. He has now made 33 of his 35 free throw attempts in league play for a conference-best 94.3 percent.
 
The point guard continues to rank second in the country in both total assists (198) and assists per game (9.0). He has dished out at least eight assists in 15 of the 22 games this season.
 
Daniel Batcho recorded his fifth double-double of the season against Sam Houston with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The nation's leader in field goal percentage at 71.3 percent has now scored in double figures in 21 of the 22 games this season. The power forward also recorded five blocks versus the Bearkats, giv­ing him 50 for the season which ranks 13th in the country. Over the last seven CUSA games, Batcho is averaging 19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
 
After scoring just five total points in the two games against WKU and Middle Tennessee, Amaree Abram bounced back with 16 points versus Sam Houston while making four of his seven three-point attempts (16th time this season making multiple triples). He anchors the team in three-point field goal percent­age (38.5) and three-pointers made (47).
 
ABOUT LIBERTY (17-5, 5-4 CUSA)
Liberty has 17 wins under its belt this season, most of any team in Conference USA. That win total was spearheaded by a 12-1 non-con­ference record which included victories over UL-Lafayette, Kansas State, and McNeese State to win the Paradise Jam.
 
The Flames got off to a 2-3 start in CUSA play but reeled off three straight wins against New Mexico State, FIU, and Kennesaw State to climb the standings before having a 72-61 loss at league-leader Jacksonville State this past Saturday.
 
Liberty clocks in as having the best offensive in CUSA, ranking top 35 in the country in both field goal percentage (49.3) and three-point field goal percentage (37.7). In league play only, they rank top two on both shooting categories as well as in three-point­ers made per game (9.1) and assists per game (14.9). The Flames have made 10+ three-pointers in 14 games this season including four of their last five.

In CUSA play only, the Flames are allowing teams to shoot just 41.8 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from beyond the arc. For the season, their scoring defense of 62.2 points allowed per game ranks ninth in the country. Only six opponents have scored 70+ points this season against the Flames. Liberty's re­cord is 1-5 in those contests.
 
For the season, there are seven Flames that are averaging at least eight points per game led by Kaden Metheny at 13.0. In league play though, it has been Taelon Peter anchoring Liberty at 16.3 points per contest. He has come off the bench to score in double figures in each of the last seven games for the Flames including three 20+ scoring performances.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series versus Liberty, 2-1. In the first matchup in Ruston last season, the Bulldogs pulled out an 80-76 overtime win. Then when the two met in Lynchburg, Metheny hit a game-winning three with two seconds left to give the Flames a 65-62.
 
And about four weeks ago, LA Tech needed to put up 52 second-half points to come back and win in Ruston, 79-74. Batcho and Newman Jr. combined for 51 points in leading the Bulldogs to victory.
 
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