Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
A resilient defensive effort and relentless work on the glass kept the game within reach, but an ice-cold shooting night ultimately proved too much for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs fell 71-60 to Kennesaw State in the title game of the 2026 Air National Guard Conference USA Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday night inside VBC Propst Arena.
No. 4 seed LA Tech (20-14) battled throughout the night to slow down one of the league’s most explosive offenses in No. 6 seed KSU (21-13). One area where the Bulldogs found success was on the glass, pulling down 45 rebounds, including 23 on the offensive end.
However, shots that had fallen throughout the four-game winning streak leading into the championship refused to drop against the Owls. LA Tech finished just 22-of-72 from the field and 2-of-28 from three-point range.
“I am so proud of this team,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “This team fought, they scrapped. They were together. They represented our university in the right way. I will never have this team again. That is the sad part for me. I will never have this collection of men again.”
Despite the offensive struggles, the Bulldogs remained within striking distance. The two teams traded punches in the first half, which featured five ties and seven lead changes before KSU carried a slim 35-32 advantage into halftime.
The Owls first tried to create separation midway through the second half, building a 55-46 lead with 10:25 remaining. LA Tech responded with a 6-0 run, ignited by a Kaden Cooper slam dunk. A driving layup by DJ Dudley followed by two made free throws from Avery Thomas II cut the deficit to three at 55-52 with 8:42 to play.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the offense went cold down the stretch as LA Tech made just two of its final 19 field goal attempts. Meanwhile, KSU connected on five straight field goals during a decisive 10-2 run that created enough separation for the Owls to close it out.
Thomas II, who was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team, recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore forward averaged 10.7 points and 10.3 boards across the three games in Huntsville.
AJ Bates also earned CUSA All-Tournament Team honors after finishing with six points and eight assists in the title game. Over the three contests, the sophomore point guard averaged 20.7 points and 6.7 assists.
“Will Allen poured his blood, sweat, and tears into this university in an era where there is no commitment in the game of college basketball,” said Hester. “He will leave as a very beloved Bulldog. AJ Bates, he was the head of our snake. Proud of the way he fought to give ourselves a chance to play for a conference championship.”
Scooter Williams provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, while Cooper nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Sir Issac Herron added eight points, and fifth-year senior Will Allen, playing in his 122nd career game as a Bulldog, chipped in three points and seven rebounds.
“Louisiana Tech has been a second home for me,” said Allen. “My older brother played football at Tech so in high school we came up to Ruston. It was already a second home for me then. There was no second guessing on where I was going to go to school.
“This was a rough year for me. These coaches have been there for me on my roughest days. I lost my mom, and they were there at the funeral. This coaching staff means the world to me. I have so much love for them.”
