Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech begins a three-game road swing starting tonight versus Middle Tennessee at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.
The Bulldogs will be looking to sweep the Blue Raiders this season as they have already defeated MTSU in Ruston. The game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler providing a call of the action.
LA Tech (17-9, 6-7) and league-leader Jacksonville State went down to the wire for the second time this season, and again the Bulldogs suffered a two-point loss to the Gamecocks, falling 70-68.
While LA Tech made more field goals and more three-pointers than Jax State, it was free throws that proved to be the difference. The Bulldogs went 13-of-18 from the foul line while the Gamecocks made 26 of their 30 free throw attempts (their last 15 points of the game came from the charity stripe). It was only the second time in the last 12 years that an opponent attempted 30+ free throws in a home game for LA Tech.
Middle Tennessee (17-8, 8-4) is currently alone in third in the conference standings with three weeks remaining. The Blue Raiders have won three of their last four, including back-to-back road victories at Kennesaw State and WKU. They managed to edge the Owls, 76-75, while putting up 87 points in a 10-point win (closed the game on a 16-7 run in the final six minutes) over the rival Hilltoppers in Bowling Green this past Saturday.
MTSU is now at home for four of its last six league games. The Blue Raiders are 9-2 at home this season and 4-1 in the Murphy Center in CUSA play.
LA Tech leads the all-time series against Middle Tennessee, 16-8. The two programs first played way back in 1959 and later played twice every season from 1987-90 before becoming league foes in the Sun Belt for one year (2000- 01) prior to the Bulldogs leaving to join the WAC.
The Bulldogs and Blue Raiders became league foes again in CUSA in 2013. Since then, LA Tech owns a 9-6 advantage in the series including a 75-69 earlier this season in Ruston. LA Tech has had moderate success against MTSU in the Murphy Center, winning five of the 10 matchups. The series is 3-3 in Murfreesboro since joining CUSA.
