Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech opens up the 2023 Conference USA Basketball Championship tonight versus FIU at 8 p.m. at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. This will mark the first time the Bulldogs and Panthers face off in the league tournament.
The contest can be heard on KXKZ 107.5 FM and through the LA Tech Athletics app and it can be seen on ESPN+.
LA Tech closed out the regular season with a near upset of C-USA regular season champion Florida Atlantic, falling in the final seconds, 76-72, in Ruston. It was another near miss of upsetting the Owls as the Bulldogs fell in overtime against FAU in their first meeting in Boca Raton.
FIU put an end to its five-game losing streak by winning on the road at Rice, 90-83, to end the regular season. The Panthers avenged an earlier loss to the Owls in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties.
LA Tech leads the all-time series with FIU, 10-8. The two teams split the series this season with the Panthers winning, 66-62, in Miami about a month ago and the Bulldogs taking it, 77-76, in overtime this past Thursday in Ruston.
LA Tech overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half to defeat FIU a week ago. Five Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Keaston Willis who had 18. The ‘Dogs had a +14 rebounding margin and managed to overcome their 21 turnovers.
Seven points or less has decided the last eight meetings between the Bulldogs and Panthers (and four points or less has decided the last five meetings).
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Thomas Henson recorded his fourth top-20 individual finish of the season in leading Louisiana Tech to a sixth-place finish as a team at the Tiger Invitational, hosted by the University of Auburn at Grand National Lakes Course.
LA Tech jumped up one spot during the third and final round, shooting 288 (E) to finish with its second best three-round total of the season at +4 (280-300-288=868).
After totaling 11 birdies through the first two rounds, Henson managed only one birdie in the round to shoot 74 (+2). Even so, he put together his second best tournament as a Bulldog by shooting 214 (68-72-74) to finish at -2 and tied for 18th individually.
Grant Smith had his best career tournament as a Bulldog, tying for 24th after shooting 216 (68-78-70) for Even par. He bounced back from a tough second round to have the best round for LA Tech on Tuesday.
Freshman Riley Hnatyshyn had the second best round on the final day, shooting his first collegiate round under par at 71 (-1) to finish with a three-round total of 221 (72-78-71). He tied for 47th individually.
Lake Juban had the third best score in the final round for the Bulldogs, shooting 73 (+1) to end with a three-round total of 220 (72-75-73). He tied for 38th individually.
Hunter Battles tied for 69th carding a 226 (76-75-75).
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Despite seven scoreless innings in the circle from freshman pitcher Allie Floyd, the Louisiana Tech Softball team dropped its midweek matchup to ULM, 3-1 on Tuesday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
A two-run home run in the top of the ninth by the Warhawks Ashlan Ard was the difference maker, propelling ULM to a 3-1 victory.
Floyd went the distance, pitching all nine innings while striking out four and allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks.
Brooke Diaz was the bright spot in the Lady Techsters lineup, hitting her first home run of the season with a solo shot to left-centerfield to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, while also doubling in the fourth inning. Sierra Sacco and Jordyn Manning would also collect hits, but that is all Tech could muster at the plate.
Tech had an opportunity to win it in the bottom of the seventh with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, but a fly ball to right field turned into a double play as pinch runner Jina Baffuto was thrown out at home trying to score from third. Sacco then lined out to centerfield to end the inning and extend the game.
Tech will host North Texas in a three-game C-USA series Friday thru Sunday at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
