RUSTON – Louisiana Tech is back home to face New Mexico State on Wednesday night in the annual Red Out game inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Promotions: Red Out | T-Shirt Giveaway | Hometown Heroes Appreciation
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (12-9, 5-5 CUSA)
LA Tech's solid start unraveled after halftime as extended scoring runs and free-throw disparity fueled an 83-67 setback to Sam Houston this past Saturday. It was nip-and-tuck through the first 20 minutes, a stanza that included five ties and four lead changes which led to a 34-32 edge for the Bearkats. However, the second half was a different story as the Bulldogs were outscored, 49-35.
 
The Bulldogs, who are currently tied for sixth in the league standings, pulled down 15 offensive rebounds versus the Bearkats, marking the ninth time this season they have had 15+ in a single game. LA Tech has registered double-digit offensive boards in 11 of the last 13 contests (four straight). Their average of 12.20 of­fensive rebounds per game during conference play.
 
Despite giving up the second most points in a game this season to Sam Houston, LA Tech still ranks third nationally in scoring defense allowing 62.2 points per game. They have held 17 of their 21 opponents under their season scoring average.

DJ Dudley continued his scoring onslaught, registering a game-high 21 points at Sam Houston. Over the last seven games, the junior guard is averaging 19.9 points while shooting 45.0 percent from three-point range (18-of-40). He has scored 17+ points in all seven games and has four consecutive games of 20+ points, becoming just the fifth Bulldog in the last 25 years (first since Cobe Williams in 2023) and is one of only two CUSA players -- Keith Palek III of Missouri State -- to accomplish this feat.
 
Scooter Williams has become the sixth man for the Bulldogs, averaging 10.7 points during league (six games of double-digit points). His scoring has gone up over the last three games, averag­ing 19.7 points while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from beyond the arc. He came off the bench against Sam Houston to post 17 points while 6-of-7 shooting (made all three of his three-point attempts).
 
AJ Bates registered 10 points and a game-high six assists at Sam Houston. The sophomore is averaging 5.5 assists per game this season, which ranks 39th in the country. During league play, he is averaging 5.1 dimes which is tied for second. He has registered at least five assists in four of the last five contests.
 
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (10-11, 3-8 CUSA)
New Mexico State started off hot this season, winning its first six games including dou­ble-digit victories against UC Irvine and Geor­gia State in the Cancun Challenge.
 
The Aggies, who were picked to finish third in the CUSA preseason poll, split its first four con­ference games, which included a pair of home victories over Sam Houston and WKU. Howev­er, NM State has since dropped six of their last seven games, including their last four. Most recently, they suffered their worst loss of the season, falling 76-53 at Kennesaw State.
 
NM State, which is in 11th in the conference standings, is in the midst of a three-game road swing (five of seven games in February are away from home) as they will make the short trek to El Paso, Texas to face rival UTEP follow­ing their matchup versus LA Tech in Ruston.
 
Jemel Jones, a transfer from Cal State Bakers­field and CUSA All-Preseason Team selection, is the top scorer for the Aggies averaging 15.8 points per game (15.2 in league play). He ex­cels at getting to the foul line, a place where he has made 83 of his 99 free throw attempts.
 
The other weapon for NM State has been Ju­lius Mims, a graduate transfer from Idaho. The forward is currently averaging 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game (averaging 9.5 boards in conference action, which ranks second).
 
THE SERIES
New Mexico State leads the all-time series over LA Tech, 18-6. The Aggies have dominated the series, winning 16 of the first 20 matchups before the Bulldogs swept the league series in 2023-24. Wednesday will be the lone meeting between the two teams this season.
 
LA Tech and NM State have been in three dif­ferent conferences together (Sun Belt Confer­ence (2000-01), Western Athletic Conference (2005-12), and Conference USA (2023-pres­ent).
 
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