RUSTON – One week after a frustrating loss, Louisiana Tech made sure there was no repeat performance this time around.
 
Fueled by a relentless effort on the glass and a dominant presence in the paint, the Bulldogs exacted revenge on Sam Houston with an 87-78 victory Saturday afternoon inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
The game carried added significance with Bulldog legend Paul Millsap in attendance – along with other LA Tech greats for Legends Day – for his No. 24 jersey retirement. The program's elite rebounder served as a fitting source of inspiration as LA Tech (13-10, 6-6 CUSA) channeled his trademark toughness, effort and physicality throughout the contest to snap Sam Houston's (16-8, 8-5 CUSA) seven-game winning streak.
 
The Bearkats did plenty of damage from beyond the arc, drilling 13 three-pointers. The Bulldogs –  not so much – finishing with just one made triple.
 
Nevertheless, LA Tech still put up a whopping 87 points, it's most in a conference game this season, by attacking the rim at will. The result was 48 points in the paint and a season-high 26 made free throws.
 
Another key contributor to the Bulldogs' 12th home victory of the season was rebounding, as LA Tech won the battle of the boards 46-30. It was primarily the tandem of Avery Thomas II and Kaden Cooper who led the way, as both recorded double-doubles. Thomas II finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Cooper – playing for the first time since Jan. 14 – posted 16 points and a career-high 18 boards.
 
Helping the Bulldogs in the scoring column was AJ Bates, who finished with a game-high 21 points, Sir Issac Herron with a career-high 18, and Scooter Williams, who added 10.
 
The first half featured six ties and 10 lead changes, with the Bearkats having a slim 38-37 advantage at the break. Sam Houston then opened the second half with an 8-2 run to build its largest lead of the game at 46-39 with 17:50 to play.
 
Thomas II knocked down LA Tech's lone three-pointer of the game to stop the bleeding. Trailing by six with under 15 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs put together a 10-0 run, sparked by Herron, who scored six of the 10 points while also helping the home team hold the Bearkats scoreless for more than six minutes.
 
Sam Houston continued to hang around, trimming the deficit to 71-68 with just over two minutes on the clock. LA Tech then went on a quick 6-0 spurt, beginning with a Herron block that led to a floater in the paint by Thomas II. Bates tacked on two free throws, followed by a wide-open layup that was perhaps the play of the game, as Cooper rejected a three-point attempt and fired a homerun pass up the floor for the assist.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
 
On the win…
"We played tougher and were more together than we have been all year.  I think it reflected in our offensive performance.  We shared the ball with 17 assists on 30 made baskets.  We advanced the ball, got out in transition.  And even though we were not making threes, we dominated the glass with Avery and Kaden to be able to get second chance opportunities.  Then we guarded like we guard."
 
On getting scoring production from several guys…
"We talked about being selfless.  We lost our last game because we were selfish.  The message got across.  Now, can we continue that as games go on.  Can we remember what this feeling feels like."
 
On Kaden Cooper's resurgence…
"I have always told Kaden that we he rebounds, when his motor is that of a great rebounder, then everything opens up for you.  It must be in that order.  The last time our fans saw Kaden was when we were down 19 to Middle Tennessee.  When you are not doing what you can do to help the team, then it is my job to make decisions.  He had an unbelievable week of practice, and I told him that I hope he was ready to play.  This is the result."
 
Forward Avery Thomas II
 
On the switch defensively…
"At one media timeout, coach told us that Sam Houston was shooting the ball way to well.  It started to look like what happened at their place last week.  We did not want to let that happen again.  We started getting into gaps, forcing them to shoot over our length."
 
Forward Sir Issac Herron
 
On the biggest difference between a week ago to today playing Sam Houston…
"Pride.  Our pride was on the line.  They beat us at their crib.  They were tougher.  Ultimately, we had to buckle down and be prideful.  Paul Millsap came and we represented him well.  That was on the line for us, and we could not let our fanbase down."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series over Sam Houston, 8-5.  The Bulldogs snapped the Bearkats 7-game winning streak.
• LA Tech improved to 5-1 versus Sam Houston when playing at home.
• LA Tech improved to 12-2 in the Thomas Assembly Center this season.  The Bulldogs have now won 12+ home games in 11 of the last 14 seasons.
• The Bulldogs collected their 141st Conference USA, tying for the sixth most in league history (Marshall).
• LA Tech's 87 points was the most scored in a CUSA game this season for the Bulldogs.  It is the third most points scored by any team in Division I this season with one or less made three-pointers.
• The 50 points scored by the Bulldogs in the second half were the most in any half this season.
• LA Tech set single-game highs this season for made free throws (26) and attempted free throws (35).
• The Bulldogs secured 10 steals, the most in a conference game this season (most since Dec. 22, 2025, against Dallas Christian).
• LA Tech registered its second win of the season having made just one three-pointer.  They are one of just two teams in the country to have done so twice this season (George Mason).
• LA Tech outscored Sam Houston 48-16 in the paint.  It marked the third time this season and the first time against a CUSA opponent that the Bulldogs had at least a 30+ scoring margin in paint points.  It was their most paint points in a CUSA game since Feb. 1, 2024, at FIU (48) and the largest paint point differential in a CUSA game since Dec. 29, 2023, versus UTSA (54-16).
• LA Tech registered 46 rebounds, marking the 11th time this season with 40+ boards.  The Bulldogs have outrebounded 16 of their 23 opponents this season.  It was the eighth time this season with a double-digit rebounding advantage (46-30).
• The Bulldogs pulled down 18 offensive rebounds, marking the 11th time this season with 15+ offensive boards.  It is the first time since 2014 that LA Tech has back-to-back games with 18+ offensive rebounds.
• AJ Bates registered his second 20+ scoring performance of the season and the third of his Bulldog career with a game-high 21 points.  He made 11 free throws, the most this season by any Bulldog.  The sophomore also dished out six assists, marking the 14th time this season at least five dimes in a single game (has done so in five straight games).
• Sir Issac Herron recorded a career-high 18 points.  The forward also had a season-high three blocks.
• Kaden Cooper tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.  It was the eighth time this season and the 26th time of his Bulldog career to be the top rebounder.  He became just the first Bulldog since Paul Millsap (2006) to have multiple games with 18+ boards in the same season.  
• Kaden Cooper became the first Division I player this season to record a stat line of 16 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
• Avery Thomas II posted his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  The forward also had a season-high four steals, which tied his career high.  This marked the second game this season Thomas II and Cooper registered double-doubles in the same game. 
• Scooter Williams scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game, tallying 10 points.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will hit the road to face new CUSA foe Missouri State on Thursday, Feb. 12.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.
 
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