By Kane McGuire, Louisiana Tech, Associate Athletic Director/Strategic Communications and Digital Marketing; featured photo by Kane McGuire
Louisiana Tech ran into a scorching Middle Tennessee team in what ended as an 88-51 loss on Friday night inside the Murphy Center.
AJ Bates hit a running floater in the paint to get LA Tech (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) on the scoreboard with the first points. Then the three-pointers started raining for MTSU (8-5, 2-0 CUSA) and they never stopped as the Blue Raiders hit a program-record 22 triples.
MTSU made nine of its first 14 three-point attempts, building a 33-13 lead just a little over 12 minutes into the contest. LA Tech countered with its biggest run of the game, scoring seven straight points that began with the team’s first three coming from DJ Dudley.
Facing a 39-22 halftime deficit, not much changed in the second half as the Blue Raiders opened the frame banging in two more three-pointers.
Dudley’s driving layup and slam dunk by Kylan Howze had the Bulldogs down 19 with 15:40 remaining, but any effort at a comeback was put to bed as MTSU drained four consecutive triples, two of which came from Alec Oglesby who went 8-of-14 from downtown, scoring a game-high 25 points.
LA Tech shot just 38.6 percent from the field (17-44), making just four three-pointers. Scooter Williams scored a team-high 12 points off the bench followed by Dudley who had 11.
Meanwhile, MTSU shot a blistering 55.2 percent from the field (32-58) and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc (22-44).
QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester
On the loss…
“I thought our lack of effort to get to shooters was the biggest issue. Our lack of effort to move when the ball was moving. Middle Tennessee was getting one-pass away shots. We are supposed to be right on top of those. When you go on the road and play tough teams, you must bring max effort. When you don’t, you don’t give yourself a chance and we did not give ourselves a chance tonight.”
NOTABLES
- With the loss, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus Middle Tennessee, 17-10. The Blue Raiders, who come to Ruston in 12 days, have now won two in a row.
- The 22 made three-pointers by MTSU was the second most by an opponent in program history (most since 1993).
- Scooter Williams led the Bulldogs in scoring for a second time this season, tallying 12 points off the bench.
- DJ Dudley scored in double figures for the ninth time this season (team high). He hit two three-pointers, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one made three to eight games.
UP NEXT
LA Tech will head to Bowling Green, Kentucky to face off against the WKU Hilltoppers on Sunday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
