Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech looks to get back into the win column today as the Bulldogs play host to Kennesaw State inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+.
The contest was originally slated for Saturday but was moved up due to anticipated weather.
LA Tech trails in the all-time series versus Kennesaw State, 2-0. The two programs met for the first time last season when the Owls joining CUSA. KSU ended up winning both meetings – 78-76 in Kennesaw and 69-47 in Ruston.
Following a pair of double-digit comebacks, LA Tech (10-8, 3-4) was on the verge of doing it again, but its comeback effort fell short in a 64-60 loss to Jacksonville State this past Saturday. Down 16 with five minutes to go, the Bulldogs went on a 13-0 run to get to within one possession at 60-57 with 55 seconds to go, but the Gamecocks were able to prevent LA Tech from securing its first road win of the season by sinking four late free throws.
LA Tech is becoming accustomed to playing in close games. Four of the Bulldogs’ last five contests have been decided by five points or less (LA Tech is 2-2 in these games). One of the reasons LA Tech overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat Delaware, a 20-point deficit to beat Middle Tennessee, and nearly overcame a 16-point deficit at Jax State, has been the play of the last five minutes. The Bulldogs have outscored those three opponents 36-15 during that stretch.
Kennesaw State (12-7, 4-4) got off to a 9-2 start this season but ran into its toughest stretch of losing four straight games — three on the road to open CUSA play and a 92-81 defeat versus 16th-ranked Alabama in a neutral site contest to close non-conference.
The Owls, picked second in the CUSA preseason poll, were able to flip a switch and reel off four straight victories in league action over Missouri State, Jacksonville State, FIU, and WKU. That streak came to an end on Thursday as they nearly rallied from a 15-point deficit before falling 93-87 at Sam Houston in a high-scoring affair.
Offensively, KSU was riding the hot hand this season of Simeon Cottle. The CUSA Preseason Player of the Year was averaging 20.2 points per game but has missed the last two games due to suspension. Stepping up in his place has been RJ Johnson.
The sophomore guard who redshirted last season was averaging just 9.0 points through the first 14 games. Over the last four, he is averaging a whopping 26.3 points including back-to-back 30-point performances that helped earn him CUSA Player of the Week.
