Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech dominated from start to finish Sunday afternoon, shooting a blistering 65.4 percent from the field in an 89-37 non-conference victory over Ecclesia College inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
LA Tech (5-3) controlled every phase, using a 25-2 run to race out to a 40-11 halftime lead while limiting Ecclesia to just four first-half field goals. The Bulldogs extended the margin to as many as 52, which was the final margin of victory as LA Tech remained undefeated at home.
“We need to keep cleaning up what we do,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “This is a long process, a long season, and our goal to is get better every day. This is not going to click overnight. We must keep taking steps towards being great. We turned the ball over too much.
“Rebounding we were fine, shooting we were fine except for the free throw line. There is a feel that you have as a coach that you know what your team should look like. We are on our way there. If we can keep growing, keep defending, keep playing hard, we will get there.”
Kaden Cooper led all scorers with 20 points, going 8-of-10 from the floor while adding three steals and three blocks in a complete two-way performance. Avery Thomas II poured in 17 points, draining four three-pointers as LA Tech connected on a season-high 11 triples at a 45.8 percent clip.
AJ Bates finished with 14 points and a career-best 10 assists, nothing his first ever double-double to spearhead a Bulldog offense that totaled 24 assists on 34 made baskets. DJ Dudley was the fourth LA Tech player to score in double figures, added 12 points in his first start as a Bulldog.
“(Bates) is growing,” said Hester. “It is the battle of him running the team and him making the right play. I want him to have a good handle of the team. As he grows, you are going to see him become even more dynamic.”
LA Tech overwhelmed Ecclesia in the paint, owning a 42-8 scoring advantage at the rim. The Bulldogs also owned the glass against the Royals, winning the rebounding edge 46-17. Cooper and Thomas II each provided eight boards while Will Jeffress pulled down a game-high nine.
“We knew we would not have as many offensive rebounds being that we were probably going to see the ball go in more,” said Hester. “We wanted to be dominant on the glass, give them one shot. I think our intensity backed off in the second half. Late in the game, it was more about our maturity.”
The Bulldogs host UL-Lafayette Dec. 13.
