RUSTON – Louisiana Tech seeks revenge on Saturday as the Bulldogs play host to Sam Houston inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. The two teams faced off a week ago with the Bearkats taking the win in Huntsville.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 7 | 2 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
Promotions: Paul Millsap Jersey Retirement | Legend's Day | Quarter-Century Team Recognition
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (12-10, 5-6 CUSA)
It will be a special day on Saturday as LA Tech will retire the No. 24 jersey of Hall of Famer Paul Millsap. During his three-year career (2003-06) as a Bulldog, he averaged 18.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks over 92 games. Some of his accolades include a 2006 AP All-American, 2004 WAC Freshman of the Year, three-time All-WAC and two-time USBWA All-District. Millsap, who was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 47th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, spent 16 seasons in the NBA and was a four-time NBA All-Star.
 
LA Tech could not overcome a cold shooting night as the Bulldogs suffered just their second home loss of the season, falling 72-63 to New Mexico State this past Wednesday. In a one-point game with 10 minutes to go, the 'Dogs made just three of their 16 field goal attempts and missed five of their 11 free throws during the stretch.
 
The Bulldogs, who are tied for sixth in the league standings, pulled down 41 rebounds versus the Aggies, marking the 10th time this season with 40+ boards. LA Tech currently ranks 38th in the country in rebounds per game (39.45). They also rank 22nd in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (13.50). The 'Dogs registered 22 offensive rebounds against NM State, their most ever in a CUSA game. Over the last five games, the Bulldogs are averaging 15.2 offensive boards.
 
Scooter Williams scored a team-high 22 points against New Mexico State, tying his career high with five made three-pointers. During league play, the sixth man for the Bulldogs is averaging 11.7 points. He has been on a heater as of late, averaging 20.3 points while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from beyond the arc over the last four games.
 
Despite an off-scoring night, DJ Dudley continues to pace the Bulldogs in scoring with an average of 14.2 points per game. During conference action, the junior is averaging 16.9 points which is tied for fourth in the league. He had multiple streaks come to an end in the loss to NM State, including his streak of 20+ points in four straight games and at least one made three in 16 straight contests.
 
Dudley and Williams have been quite the scoring tandem as of late. The duo has accounted for 53.7 percent of LA Tech's scoring in the last four games, combining to score 30+ points in all four contests including a 48-point effort against Kennesaw State.
 
Other key contributors for the Bulldogs against NM State were Jaylen Fenner who registered a career-high 10 rebounds and Will Allen who came off the bench to score a career-high 10 points.
 
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON (16-7, 8-4 CUSA)
Sam Houston enters the weekend as one of the hottest teams in CUSA, having won seven in a row which is currently the second longest streak in the league behind only Liberty who has won 13 straight. After dropping four of their first five games in league play, the Bear­kats have rattled off seven wins including a hard-fought 70-66 victory over UTEP this past Wednesday.  
 
The Bearkats, who were picked ninth in the CUSA preseason poll, are alone in second in the conference stands with an 8-4 mark. They have had plenty of success on the road this season, owning a 5-6 record away from home.
 
Sam Houston ranks second in the league and 53rd in the country in scoring offense with an average of 83.2 points per contest. The Bear­kats have scored 70+ points in 11 of their 12 league games, averaging 77.8 points during conference action while shooting 46.1 per­cent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range (both marks rank second).
 
During Sam Houston's seven-game winning streak, the scoring has come from a variety of Bearkats. Seven different players are averag­ing at least eight points during this span, led by Po'Boigh King who is averaging 15.9 points. For all of conference play, the transfer guard from North Carolina Central is averaging 16.4 points, which ranks seventh in the league.
 
Rebounding is Sam Houston's specialty, av­eraging 41.96 boards per game which ranks eighth in the country. Case in point, the Bearkats outrebounded the Miners this past Wednedsday, 50-37. Two players rank in the top four in rebounds per game during league action -- Veljko Ilis (7.9) and Kashie Natt (7.6).
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series versus Sam Houston, 7-5. The Bearkats got the better of the Bulldogs a week ago, winning 83-67 in Huntsville. LA Tech is 4-1 all-time versus Sam Houston in Ruston.
 
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