RUSTON – After splitting its road trip last week, Louisiana Tech is back home to host Jacksonville State on Wednesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. The Bulldogs are set to play three of their next four games in Ruston.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (107.5 FM) | LA Tech Athletics app
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
Sponsor: Willis Knighton Health
Promotion: Bark Louder Pop Socket Giveaway
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (14-11, 7-7 CUSA)
LA Tech was on the verge of collecting a road sweep, but the Bull­dogs ran out of gas the latter part of the second half in a 77-64 loss to FIU this past Saturday in Miami. LA Tech was clicking on all cylinders through the first eight minutes of the second stanza, building a five-point lead over FIU. However, the Panthers controlled the rest of the ball game, outscoring the Bulldogs 30-12 the rest of the way, which snapped LA Tech's six-game winning streak over FIU.
 
Despite the loss, LA Tech stayed in a tie for fourth in the league standings with six conference games remaining. The Bulldogs are in a three-way tie with WKU and Missouri State, only two games back of second and one game back of third-place Jacksonville State.
 
The Bulldogs registered 11 steals versus the Panthers, their most in a conference game this season. It marked the fifth time this season LA Tech has had double-digit steals. Over the last three games, they are averaging 10.0 steals per contest. Six different Bulldogs regis­tered steals against FIU, led by AJ Bates who tied his career high with four. Kaden Cooper added three steals, bringing his career total to 74 as a Bulldog over the last two seasons.
 
LA Tech outscored FIU, 36-34, in the paint. The Bulldogs have now scored 30+ paint points 19 times this season (nine of the last 10 games). The team is averaging 34.5 paint points per game and has outscored 18 of their 25 opponents this season (10 of their 14 conference foes).
 
AJ Bates led the Bulldogs in scoring for the seventh time this sea­son, posting 14 points at FIU. He also dished out four assists, bringing his career total to 186. The sophomore is now just 14 assists shy of becoming the 25th Bulldog in program history to reach 200 career assists. He currently ranks 41st in the nation in total assists (137) and 38th in assists per game (5.5), both of which rank third in the league.
 
DJ Dudley scored in double figures for the team-high 16th time this season against FIU, tallying 13 points. He continues to pace LA Tech offensively with an average of 13.6 points per game. During conference action, the junior is averaging 15.1 points, which ranks 13th.
 
Kaden Cooper came off the bench to provide 10 points versus the Panthers. The junior did not see any action over a five-game span but is averaging 14.3 points while shooting 50.0 percent from the field over the last three contests. He is also averaging 11.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game during this stretch.
 
ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (13-12, 8-6 CUSA)
Jacksonville State had a hot stretch of winning five of six conference games. However, the Gamecocks dropped their last two contests this past week to UTEP and New Mexico State, both at home.
 
Despite the losses, Jax State sits alone in third in the league standings with six games to play. Four of their last six contests will be on the road. They are 3-3 in road conference games.
 
Jax State operates with one of the top defens­es in the league, ranking top 30 in the coun­try in several statistical categories including scoring defense (66.9), field goal percentage defense (39.7), and three-point field goal per­centage defense (30.1).
 
The Gamecocks own the second-best defense during conference play only, allowing just 69.7 points per contest. They also rank No. 1 in both field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense.
 
With the loss of CUSA Player of the Year Jaron Pierre Jr., the Gamecocks went out and found a new scorer in Mostapha El Moutaouakkil. Named as one of the 10 players to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team, the transfer from UL-Lafayette is averaging 18.0 points per contest, which ranks first in the league.
 
The 6-foot-6 guard has scored in double fig­ures in 20 of their 25 games with eight con­tests of 20+ points. He loves to get to the foul line, a place where he has attempted 206 free throws which ranks ninth in the country.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech and Jax State faced off twice in 2024 for the first time ever with the Gamecocks joining CUSA. The Bulldogs prevailed in both contests, winning 74-57 in Jacksonville and again in Ruston with a final score of 63-58.
 
However, the Gamecocks have claimed the last three contests, winning by a combined eight points including a 64-60 victory a month ago in Jacksonville. Of the five meetings between the two programs, only twice has a team been able to crack 70 points.
 
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