RUSTON – Louisiana Tech plays its final non-conference road game this Saturday when they make the long trek to face the Wyoming Cowboys. This will be the farthest trip for the Bulldogs this season.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 10 | 8 p.m. CT
Location: Arena-Auditorium (Laramie, Wyo.)
TV/Stream: Mountain West Network
Talent: Justin Adams (pxp), Brian Burton (analyst)
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats | LA Tech Athletics app
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (6-2)
LA Tech extended its winning streak to five a week ago with a 74-59 victory over Southern. In doing so, the Bulldogs set a new program record for the longest non-conference winning streak at home at 31 games. They have not lost at home in non-conference play in the last four years.
Cobe Williams had one of the best statistical performances in college basketball against the Jaguars. Not only did he score a game-high 21 points (15 coming in the second half), he also set or tied season highs in rebounds (seven), assists (six), steals (four), and blocks (two).
In the first half against Southern, it was
Keaston Willis who was on fire offensively. He scored all 16 of his points through the first 20 minutes, sinking four three-pointers in the process. He has made at least three triples in each of the last five games (longest streak of his collegiate career).
The two guards continue to pace the team in scoring with Williams averaging 18.3 points per game and Willis averaging 14.0 points per game.
LA Tech currently ranks in the top three in Conference USA and top 75 in the country in free throw percentage (75.0), steals per game (9.2), three-point field goal percentage (37.6), three-pointers made per game (9.9), turnover margin (2.8), and turnovers forced per game (19.00).
ABOUT WYOMING (4-5)
Wyoming put an end to its four-game losing streak by defeating Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday, 91-76. The Cowboys had suffered close losses to Drake, Boston College, Santa Clara, and Grand Canyon prior to picking up a victory against the Lions.
The Cowboys came into the season with lofty expectations, having returned 85 percent of their scoring after winning 25 games a year ago, being ranked as high as No. 22 in the country and earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. They were picked second in the Mountain West preseason poll and received top 25 votes in the preseason AP poll.
Wyoming has been hit with the injury bug this season, none more important than that of Graham Ike. The Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year suffered a lower leg injury prior to the season that has sidelined him so far. He averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season in route to being named First Team All-Mountain West.
First Team All-MW guard Hunter Maldonado anchors the Cowboys, averaging 13.6 points per game. He had a stellar season in 2021-22, averaging 18.5 points and 6.3 assists per game.
The Cowboys will let it fly from three. They rank 18th in the country in three-point attempts per game at 28.0.
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the fifth meeting ever between LA Tech and Wyoming, a series that includes a home-and-home in 1991/1992 and two tournament matchups in the state of Wyoming in 1998 and 2011. The Cowboys have won all four by double digits.
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