LA Tech returns seven letterwinners, including four starters, off last season’s roster that won 24 games, claimed a Conference USA West Division title and reached the Final Four of the National Invitation Tournament.

“We have a number of guys who are all about as much basketball as possible,” said Tech head coach Eric Konkol. “They will do everything they possibly can to be as good as they can. We will always rely on experiences from the past. We are excited about being at full capacity and about the buzz surrounding this season.”

Of those returners are Amorie Archibald and Exavian Christon who are both back for a fifth season.  The two veteran guards have a combined 210 games of playing experience. 

 There is also the frontcourt duo of Kenneth Lofton, Jr. and Isaiah Crawford, both of whom were Third Team All-Conference USA selections last season and were voted as Preseason All-Conference nominees for this upcoming year.  They were the Bulldogs top two scorers last season, averaging almost 23 combined points and 13 combined rebounds per game. 

 Another key returner is point guard Cobe Williams who was named to the C-USA All-Defensive Team last season while also averaging 8.6 points and 2.7 assists per game.

This will be the only exhibition for LA Tech before the season officially tips off on Nov. 9 at No. 14 Alabama.

LA Tech leads the all-time series, 20-12, with the last meeting coming in the 2011 home opener for LA Tech with the Bulldogs winning 92-70.  That was the first matchup between the two teams in over 50 years.  Thursday will be the first time on record that the two teams face off in an exhibition game.