Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech goes for its 10th straight home win as the Bulldogs play host to CUSA preseason favorite Liberty tonight inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the contest can be seen on CBS Sport Network.
LA Tech (8-6, 1-2) overcame a 15-point deficit to take the lead with one minute left, but WKU capitalized on multiple trips to the free throw line as the Bulldogs fell 66-61 in a hard-fought battle with the Hilltoppers on Sunday. After taking a 61-60 advantage with 59.7 seconds left, the Bulldogs went 0-for-3 from the field while WKU went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe, preventing LA Tech from claiming its first road win of the season.
The Bulldogs come into the weekend with an 8-0 record at home. In the friendly confines of the TAC, LA Tech is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the opponents are shooting just 32.2 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from downtown.
Liberty (11-3, 3-0), the CUSA preseason favorite and reigning regular season and tournament champion, opened the season with five straight wins before suffering its three losses in a four-game span. The Flames have gotten back on track ever since, winning five straight including a 64-61 victory at Dayton to close out non-conference as well as a 3-0 start to league play.
They first survived FIU in Miami in overtime and then followed that up with home victories against Kennesaw State (81-73) and Jacksonville State (78-69). Most recently versus the Gamecocks, the Flames erupted for 51 second-half points to remain undefeated at Liberty Arena this season.
The Flames are an offensive juggernaut, overwhelming opponents yet again with their high efficiency. Liberty ranks top 10 in the country in several categories including effective field goal percentage (62.1), field goal percentage (52.3), and three-point field goal percentage (40.4).
Liberty is most well-known for its three-point shooting, averaging 11.2 made triples per game which ranks 11th in the nation. The Flames have made 10+ threes in eight of their 11 games and 15+ four times.
LA Tech and Liberty will face off for the fifth team, having split both match-ups in each of the last two seasons as CUSA opponents. The home team has won all four meetings with three of those being decided by five points or less. Every game has been nationally televised up to this point.
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The Lady Techsters travels to Delaware to face the Blue Hens for the first time in program history tonight, its first road game since November 26th.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on ESPN+.
The Lady Techsters (7-5, 0-1)lost their conference home opener against the Sam Houston Bearkats 67-64 on Friday night, ending a 10-game win streak within the Thomas Assembly Center. The night was plagued by turnovers and missed opportunities, especially at the free throw line.
It was classic conference action, with 12 lead changes and 12 ties, with neither team grabbing a lead of double-figures. Friday night marks the only game the Lady Techsters have not shot at least 20 three-pointers in a game and marked the lowest makes on the season, only netting three.
The Blue Hens (6-8, 0-2) are coming off an 0-2 week in their inaugural Conference USA action, losing to UTEP and New Mexico State. Delaware were able to take New Mexico State to overtime, ultimately only mustering one point to the Aggies eight in the period. Overtime was forced by a NM State layup with 0.4 second left in regulation to tie the game. Ande’a Cherisier notched a double double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 boards.
