BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Louisiana Tech overcame a 15-point deficit to take the lead with one minute left, but WKU capitalized on trips to the free throw line as the Bulldogs fell 66-61 in a hard-fought battle Sunday afternoon inside E.A. Diddle Arena.
 
LA Tech (8-6, 1-2 CUSA) was seeing déjà vu as WKU (9-5, 2-1 CUSA) drained nine three-pointers in the first half, just as its Friday opponent Middle Tennessee did.  The result was a 37-25 halftime deficit.
 
However, the Bulldogs rediscovered their defense in the second half, completely shutting down a Hilltopper offense that was coming off a 102-point effort. 
 
With LA Tech trailing 42-27 early in the second stanza, they allowed just nine points over a stretch of 13 minutes to claw back into the contest.  Back-to-back slams by Melian Martinez as well as back-to-back mid-range jumpers by Avery Thomas II helped the cause on offense.
 
As did a drained three-pointer by AJ Bates in front of the team's bench, slicing the deficit down to two.  The next play on the defensive end, Bates secured a steal, which led to Thomas II scoring the bucket plus the foul to tie things up for the very first time at 51-51 with 5:55 still to play.
 
Thomas II missed the free throw to try to give LA Tech its first lead of the contest, as did Scooter Williams who was not able to connect on a pair of attempts.  Despite going just 9-of-19 from the foul line, the Bulldogs was still within striking distance of snatching the lead.
 
It finally did so with 59.7 seconds left when Williams found Martinez in the paint for a soft floater to make it 61-60 in favor of the Bulldogs.  On the ensuing play, the officials whistled Bates for a touch foul more than 40 feet away from the basket.
 
WKU's Ryan Myers sank both, giving the Hilltoppers the lead right back.  LA Tech would go 0-of-3 from the field in the final minute while the home team sank six straight free throws (went 20-of-25 from the charity stripe) as part of a 6-0 run to close the game out.
 
Bates led the Bulldogs with 13 points, followed by a career high 12 points from Martinez and 10 by Williams.  Kaden Cooper just missed out on a double-double with eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the loss…
"We fought in the second half.  We were down not because of them but because of us.  We cleaned up the mistakes we were making and got back into the game.  We rebounded the ball well, crashing the offensive glass.  When we started sharing the ball and getting downhill, we were scoring the ball in the paint.  When we pushed with pace, we got some easy baskets.  We just must be better at the free throw line.  We were atrocious there."
 
On the looks at the end of the game…
"The last two looks were supposed to be drives to the basket.  It did not happen.  Those are learning experiences for this team.  We will grow from it.  I was proud of how we fought in this road game.  This is what fighting on the road is supposed to look like."
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails the all-time series against WKU, 24-23.  Fourteen of the last 18 meetings have now been decided by 10 points or less or overtime. 
• The Bulldogs suffered their sixth loss at E.A. Diddle Arena against the Hilltoppers that was decided by six points or less.
• LA Tech held WKU to its second lowest point total of the season (lowest at home), allowing just 66 points after the Hilltoppers were coming off a 102-point effort.
• The Bulldogs outscored the Hilltoppers, 34-10, in the paint.
• LA Tech outrebounded WKU, 44-41.  It was just the fourth time the Hilltoppers have been outrebounded all season.  The Bulldogs had 15 offensive rebounds, marking the seventh time this season with 15+ offensive boards.
• AJ Bates played all 40 minutes for the third time this season.  He scored a team-high 13 points, anchoring the Bulldogs in points for the fifth time this season.
• Melian Martinez scored a career-high 12 points, going 6-of-6 from the field.  He is the first Bulldog to shoot 100 percent from the field (minimum six attempts) since Isaiah Crawford did it against Southern Utah on Nov. 21, 2023.  He also tied his season high with three blocks.
• Scooter Williams scored in double figures for a fourth straight contest, posting 10 points.
• Kaden Cooper pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, reaching double-digit boards for the fourth time this season. 

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns home on Thursday, Jan. 8 to take on CUSA preseason favorite Liberty.  The "Black Out" game will tipoff at 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.
 
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