MBB Game 10 Preview: Louisiana Tech

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team resumes its longest series in school history when it faces in-state rival Louisiana Tech on Saturday at the Cajundome.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will follow the women's game between Louisiana and Southern-New Orleans that is set for 5 p.m. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on KHXT 107.9-FM and ESPN 1420-AM, and on the Radio Pup app. Live video and live statistics will be available at RaginCajuns.com. Tickets are available at the Cajundome Box Office.

Louisiana (7-2) returns to action after a 94-60 victory over Loyola-New Orleans on Wednesday as the Ragin' Cajuns shot 56 percent from the floor and outscored the Wolf Pack, 52-32, in the second half.

Bryce Washington posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Louisiana with Frank Bartley adding 19 points. Freshman P.J. Hardy came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points with Jay Wright scoring 15 points with five assists and three steals.

Bartley averages 19.2 points to lead Louisiana with Washington averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 11.2 rebounds. Wright adds 14.6 points and 4.0 assists for the Ragin' Cajuns, who are averaging 90.0 points per game, and have scored 80 or more points in their last eight games.

Louisiana Tech (5-3) has won its last two games since a 68-59 overtime loss at California on Nov. 30. The Bulldogs picked up a pair of wins at home – where they are 5-0 on the season – with an 88-59 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 3 and a 98-65 rout of Alcorn State on Dec. 5.

Erik McCree leads the Bulldogs with 17.0 points and 8.9 rebounds. Jacobi Boykins (13.8 ppg.), Omar Sherman (11.1) and Derric Jean (11.0) are next in scoring for Louisiana Tech, which averages 76.9 points per game.

The game marks the 128th meeting between the schools since 1930-31. Louisiana has won two of the last three meetings in the series and 10 of the last 13 in Lafayette.

GAME 10: Louisiana (7-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (5-3)
Date / Time: December 10, 2016 / 7:15 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
TV/Web: None

Radio: KHXT 107.9 FM / ESPN 1420 AM
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)

Video: RaginCajuns.com
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB

Series: Louisiana Tech leads, 69-58
At Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 36-22
At Ruston: Louisiana Tech leads, 42-15
At Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 4-0
At Unknown Sites: Louisiana Tech leads, 5-3

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981)
Career Record: 462-260 (24th season), Record at UL: 114-94 (7th season)

LOUISIANA TECH
Head Coach: Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2000)
Career Record: 28-13 (second season), Record at LA Tech: Same

STORY LINES
• Louisiana is ranked eighth in the nation in scoring offense (90.0), sixth in rebound margin (+11.4), fifth in free throw attempts (271), 17th in free throws made (184) and 18th in field goal percentage (.500).

• Louisiana's current seven-game winning streak is currently tied with Duke, Middle Tennessee and UTA for the 10th-longest among Division I schools. (Villanova with a 15-game win streak dating back to last season).

• The series with Louisiana Tech is the longest in the Ragin' Cajuns recorded history and ahead of McNeese State (92), Lamar (83), Northwestern State (73), Louisiana College (73), ULM (73) and Arkansas State (72).

• Louisiana entered the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll for the first time this season after entering the rankings at No. 20. UTA (No. 7) and Arkansas State (No. 21) join Louisiana as Sun Belt Conference schools ranked in the top 25.

QUICK HITS
• Bryce Washington is tied with three players for the national lead with seven double-doubles in 2016-17.

• Jay Wright is 12th among Division I players with 22 steals during the 2016-17 season.

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will hit the road for a pair of games beginning on Wednesday (Dec. 14) at Georgia in a game that will be televised on the SEC Network. The Ragin' Cajuns will close out the road trip on Dec. 17 at New Orleans in a 2 p.m. contest that will be televised on Cox Sports TV.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Frank Bartley

P.J. Hardy

Bryce Washington

Jay Wright

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