Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech plays its final two home games of the season this week, starting off tonight versus Missouri State inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Missouri State leads the all-time series versus LA Tech, 2-1. The Bears won the first two matchups in Springfield, including a 69-40 win in 2010 in the CIT quarterfinals. However, the Bulldogs were able to claim their first victory over MSU two weeks ago with a gritty 79-78 double overtime victory.
Tonight will be the first ever time LA Tech hosts MSU in Ruston.
LA Tech’s game-tying three-pointer was off the mark as the Bulldogs (15-12, 8-8) dropped a 58-55 defensive slugfest to Kennesaw State this past Saturday inside VyStar Arena. The Bulldogs are in a three-way tie for fourth in the league standings.
LA Tech’s defense tallied 10 steals and eight blocks at Kennesaw State. Over the five games, the team is averaging 9.6 steals and 6.8 blocks per contest. LA Tech has recorded at least eight steals in all five games (first time since the 2019-20 season).
For the season, LA Tech ranks 25th in the nation in blocks per game (4.8). Melian Martinez is a big reason for that as the center is averaging 1.65 blocks per game, which ranks first in CUSA and 59th in the country. He had a season-high five blocks at KSU, which tied his career high.
Kaden Cooper registered his third double-double over the last five games, a stretch where he is averaging 13.0 points and 11.2 boards per contest. He also has totaled 13 steals over the five games for an average of 2.6 per contest (multiple steals in all five).
Missouri State (13-14, 7-9), playing its first season in Conference USA, started league play by winning seven of 11. However, the Bears are on a five-game losing streak, having suffered losses to Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Delaware, Kennesaw State, and most recently a 70-67 home setback at FIU.
During this losing skid, four of the five defeats have been decided by four points or less. One of them was in Miami this past Saturday when the Panthers hit a game-winning three with 3.5 seconds left to defeat MSU, 70-67. As a result, Missouri State is now 7-9 in conference, putting them in a two-way tie for seventh in the league standings.
Missouri State has a three-headed monster in the scoring department. Anchoring the pack is forward Keith Palek III, a transfer from California (Pa.), who is averaging 17.6 points per contest which ranks fourth in the league. Then there is guard Kobi Williams and forward Michael Osei-Bonsu who are averaging 15.2 and 14.3 points, respectively. The trio have accounted for 59.7 percent of MSU’s scoring this season.
