LOUISIANA TECH 2024-25 BULLDOG BASKETBALL
All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change # Icons of the Game (Long Island, N.Y.) ^ Gulf Coast Showcase (Estero, Fla.) * Conference USA game | $ Huntsville, Ala.
A LA TECH WIN...
AT SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS (11-17, 4-11 cusa) Head Coach: Chris Mudge Record at SHSU: 32-29 (2nd year) Career Record: Same Record vs. LA Tech: 2-1
BULLDOG STORYLINES & PROJECTED STARTERS
4 SEAN NEWMAN JR.
• After pulling out a victory at Middle Tennessee, LA Tech was 5.4 seconds away from getting a road sweep last week, but a last-second layup by WKU resulted in a heartbreaking 64-63 loss for the Bulldogs in Bowling Green. The matchup was back and forth much of the game, featuring 10 ties and 16 lead changes.
• Another reason why the Bulldogs nearly pulled off the win over the Hilltoppers was their shooting at the foul line. LA Tech made 23 of its 25 free throw attempts (92.0 percent), the best shooting percentage from the charity stripe in at least 35 years (minimum 25 attempts). The team currently ranks second in CUSA and 56th in the country in free throw percentage at 75.6, which would set a new LA Tech program record for a single season (record is 74.2 percent set back in 1976-77). • Amaree Abram scored a team-high 21 points versus the Hilltoppers, his third 20+ scoring performance of the season. He knocked down four three-pointers in the process, giving him a team-high 60 made triples on the season which is the eighth most in CUSA. Over his last seven games, he is averaging 14.1 points while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from three. Abram is also averaging 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game during this stretch. • Sean Newman Jr. dished out a game-high five assists versus WKU, giving him 228 for the season which ranks third in the country and is the third most in a single season in program history. His 8.1 assists per game also ranks third in the nation. He has registered 5+ assists in 26 of the 28 games played this season. He needs just three more assists to crack the top eight in CUSA history. He also sank both free throws against the Hilltoppers, bringing his free throw percentage in league play to 94.0 percent (47-of-50), the best in the conference. • Daniel Batcho reached double-digit points for the 25th time this season, tallying 10 points at WKU. He continues to rank second in the country in field goal percentage (68.2), a mark that would currently set a new program record and be the third best in CUSA history. He also had two blocks, giving him multiple rejections for the the 16th time this season. He has 59 total blocks, which ranks 18th in the nation.
• Would give the Bulldogs their 19th victory of the season. LA Tech is two wins away from reaching 20 on the season, a milestone they have accomplished 29 times in program history and in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
• Talvin Hester is in his third season at the helm at LA Tech. In his second year, Hester was able to blend in seven newcomers in route to a 22-win season and a second-place finish in CUSA. He will be tasked with the same thing as seven newcomers join the 2024-25 squad, mixed in with six returners.
@LATECHHOOPS
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10.1 ppg | 2.3 rpg | 8.1 apg
AMAREE ABRAM
• It was another second-half surge that allowed LA Tech the chance to defeat WKU. The Bulldogs shot 57.9 percent from the field in the second stanza while scoring 44 points. They have now scored 40+ points in the second half 14 times this season as opposed to doing so just six times in the first half. The ‘Dogs are shooting 49.0 percent from the field in the second half as well.
• Would give the Bulldogs a season sweep over the Bearkats. Sam Houston swept the series last season.
@LATECHHOOPS
AP Poll: NR Coaches Poll: NR NET Ranking: 169
• Louisiana Tech will wrap up its three-game road swing on Saturday when the Bulldogs play at Sam Houston. LA Tech is 2-6 this season in conference road games.
• AJ Bates came off the bench to score 14 points, his third game this season in double figures. The freshman’s role has continued to grow throughout the season. Case in point, over the last 10 games he is averaging 23.5 minutes (tied for the fourth most on the team) while averaging 5.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He is also shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three during this span.
• Would give the Bulldogs their second ever win over the Bearkats in Huntsville. The lone victory came in 1990.
AP Poll: NR Coaches Poll: NR NET Ranking: 133
12.4 ppg | 4.6 rpg | 1.8 apg
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Overall: 18-10 | CUSA: 7-8 | H: 10-3 | A: 4-7 | N: 4-0 NOVEMBER MEDIA W/L SCORE 4 LSU-ALEXANDRIA ESPN+ W 77-50 9 at UT Arlington ESPN+ W 92-77 13 vs. UMass# MSG+ W 76-66 18 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE ESPN+ W 105-67 25 vs. Southern Illinois^ FloCollege W 85-79OT 26 vs. Richmond^ FloCollege W 65-62 27 vs. Eastern Kentucky^ FloCollege W 78-69 30 SOUTHERN ESPN+ L 70-73 DECEMBER 4 at #16 Memphis ESPN+ L 71-81 8 at UL-Lafayette ESPN+ W 69-58 13 GEORGIA SOUTHERN ESPN+ W 77-63 16 GRAND CANYON ESPN+ W 74-66 21 RUST COLLEGE ESPN+ W 108-60 JANUARY 2 at UTEP* ESPN+ L 60-70 4 at New Mexico State* ESPN+ L 48-78 9 FIU* ESPN+ W 81-64 11 LIBERTY* ESPNU W 79-74 16 at Jacksonville State* ESPN+ L 61-63 18 at Kennesaw State* ESPN+ L 76-78 23 WKU* CBS SN W 77-67 25 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* ESPNU W 75-69 FEBRUARY 1 SAM HOUSTON* ESPNU W 66-61OT 6 at Liberty* CBS SN L 53-77 8 at FIU* ESPN+ W 82-71 13 KENNESAW STATE* ESPN+ L 47-69 15 JACKSONVILLE STATE* ESPN+ L 68-70 20 at Middle Tennessee* CBS SN W 85-74 22 at WKU* ESPN+ L 63-64 MARCH 1 at Sam Houston* ESPN+ 4:30 p.m. 6 NEW MEXICO STATE* ESPN+ 6:30 p.m. 8 UTEP* ESPN+ 2 p.m. 11 CUSA Championship$ ----- TBA
Head Coach: Talvin Hester Record at LA Tech: 55-38 (3rd year) Career Record: Same Record vs. SHSU: 1-2
AL GREEN
2024-25 SCHEDULE
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGs (18-10, 7-8 cusa)
8.7 ppg | 1.9 rpg | 0.7 apg
KADEN 11 COOPER
DATE/TIME: Saturday, March 1 | 4:30 p.m. CT LOCATION: Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum (Huntsville, Texas) SERIES HISTORY: LA Tech leads, 6-4 STREAK: LA Tech, 1 LAST MEETING: Feb. 1, 2025 | Ruston, La. LA Tech 66, Sam Houston 61OT MEDIA: ESPN+ TALENT: Tom Franklin (pxp), Austyn Iven (analyst) RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
GAME 29 MATCHUP
9.5 ppg | 7.4 rpg | 1.5 spg
DANIEL 13 BATCHO
GAMEDAY INFO
17.3 ppg | 6.5 rpg | 2.1 bpg
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