RUSTON – Louisiana Tech plays its final two home games of the season this week, starting off with a Thursday night showdown versus Missouri State inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 26 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
Game Sponsor: b1BANK
Halftime Entertainment: Frisbee dogs
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (15-12, 8-8 CUSA)
LA Tech's game-tying three-pointer was off the mark as the Bulldogs dropped a 58-55 defensive slugfest to Kennesaw State this past Satur­day inside VyStar Arena. Up one with 3:18 to go, KSU responded with three consecutive jumpers, two of which came from beyond the arc. Now trailing, LA Tech misfired on its last four shot attempts including a try by AJ Bates with one second left to try to force the game into overtime.
 
The Bulldogs, who are in a three-way tie for fourth in the league standings, held the Owls to just 35.1 percent shooting and their lowest scoring output at home this season (27 points below their season average). LA Tech continues to rank top 10 in the country in both scoring defense (64.5) and field goal percentage defense (39.0).  
 
LA Tech's defense tallied 10 steals and eight blocks at Kennesaw State. Over the five games, the team is averaging 9.6 steals and 6.8 blocks per contest. LA Tech has recorded at least eight steals in all five games (first time since the 2019-20 season). For the season, LA Tech ranks 25th in the nation in blocks per game (4.8). Melian Martinez is a big reason for that as the center is averaging 1.65 blocks per game, which ranks first in CUSA and 59th in the country. He had a season-high five blocks at KSU, which tied his career high.
 
Kaden Cooper registered his sixth double-double of the season (tied for third most in CUSA), scoring a game-high 18 points with 13 rebounds at KSU. It was his third double-double over the last five games, a stretch where he is averaging 13.0 points and 11.2 boards per contest. He also has totaled 13 steals over the five games for an average of 2.6 per contest (multiple steals in all five).
 
AJ Bates dished out five assists versus the Owls, marking the 17th time this season with at least five dimes. The sophomore currently ranks top 35 in the nation in total assists (157) and assists per game (5.8). He recently became the 25th Bulldog in program history to reach 200 career assists. He needs 16 more to crack the top 10 list for single season assists at LA Tech.
 
 
DJ Dudley just missed a double-double at KSU, recording 10 points and a season-high nine rebounds. The junior has scored in double figures a team-high 18 times and is averaging a team-best 13.7 points per game. He ranks 12th in the league with an average of 15.3 points during conference play only.
 
ABOUT MISSOURI STATE (13-14, 7-9 CUSA)
Missouri State, playing its first season in Con­ference USA, started league play by winning seven of 11. However, the Bears are on a five-game losing streak, having suffered losses to Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Delaware, Kennesaw State, and most recently a 70-67 home set­back at FIU.
 
During this losing skid, four of the five defeats have been decided by four points or less. One of them was in Miami this past Saturday when the Panthers hit a game-winning three with 3.5 seconds left to defeat MSU, 70-67. As a result, Missouri State is now 7-9 in confer­ence, putting them in a two-way tie for sev­enth in the league standings.
 
MSU is averaging 75.8 points per game during conference play while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Bears have attempted a league-high 411 free throws. For the season, they are averaging 24.6 free throw attempts her game which ranks 29th in the nation. On the other end of the floor, they are tops in CUSA in rebounding defense (32.56) and sec­ond in steals per game (7.31) during league action. Meanwhile, their offensive and defen­sive rebounding rates are top three.
 
Missouri State has a three-headed monster in the scoring department. Anchoring the pack is forward Keith Palek III, a transfer from Cali­fornia (Pa.), who is averaging 17.6 points per contest which ranks fourth in the league. Then there is guard Kobi Williams and forward Michael Osei-Bonsu who are averaging 15.2 and 14.3 points, respectively. The trio have ac­counted for 59.7 percent of MSU's scoring this season.
 
THE SERIES
Missouri State leads the all-time series versus LA Tech, 2-1. The Bears won the first two matchups in Springfield, including a 69-40 win in 2010 in the CIT quarterfinals. However, the Bulldogs were able to claim their first victory over MSU two weeks ago with a gritty 79-78 double overtime victory.
 
Thursday will be the first ever time LA Tech hosts MSU in Ruston.
 
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