MBB Game 7 Preview: at Louisiana Tech

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team will venture to north Louisiana for the second time this season as it will face in-state rival Louisiana Tech on Saturday in a noon contest at the Thomas Assembly Center.

The game will be televised live on the American Sports Network and Cox Sports Television. The game can also be heard in the Lafayette area on both KHXT-FM (107.9) and ESPN 1420 AM, and on the Internet at RaginCajuns.com.

Louisiana (3-3) led from wire-to-wire as it defeated McNeese State, 97-64, on Wednesday at the Cajundome. The Ragin' Cajuns forced a season-high 20 turnovers in the 33-point victory – tied for the second largest margin in series history.

Shawn Long (19.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) leads Louisiana's offensive attack that ranks second nationally in scoring at 91.8 points per game. Jay Wright (10.7 points), Kasey Shepherd (10.3), Devonta Walker (9.2), Jay Hedgeman (8.5) and Johnathan Stove (8.2) follow in the scoring column for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Louisiana will face a Louisiana Tech team (7-1) that has produced wins at Ohio State and against Sun Belt Conference member UT Arlington. The Bulldogs have won 35 straight games at home since falling to the Ragin' Cajuns, 89-80, on Dec. 4, 2013, and are 54-1 on their home court since February of 2012.

GAME INFORMATION
Date / Time: Dec. 12, 2015 / 12 p.m. CT
Site: Ruston, La.
Arena: Thomas Assembly Center (8,000)

TV: American Sports Network/Cox Sports Television
Talent: Lyn Rollins (PBP), Tim Scarborough (Color)

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

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

Series: Louisiana Tech leads, 68-58
In Lafayette: UL leads 35-22
In Ruston: LA Tech leads 41-15

STORY LINES
• Louisiana and Louisiana Tech will meet today on the hardwood for the 127th time. The series with LA Tech is the longest in the Ragin' Cajuns recorded history and ahead of McNeese State, (91), Lamar (83), Northwestern State (73), Louisiana College (73), ULM (72) and Arkansas State (70).

• With one block, Shawn Long will move into sole possession of fifth-place on the Sun Belt career list (225).

THE SERIES
The longest series in Ragin' Cajuns basketball history continues as Louisiana faces former conference rival Louisiana Tech for the 127th time. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 68-58, and are 41-15 overall in Ruston. Louisiana has won three of the last five meetings in the series, including the last two meetings (89-80 in Ruston and 94-86 in Lafayette).

THE OPPONENT
Louisiana Tech has not missed a beat under first-year coach Eric Konkel, opening with a 7-1 record that has included wins at Ohio State (82-74) and against Sun Belt Conference foe UT Arlington (80-68). Erik McCree and Alex Hamilton have paced the Bulldogs in the scoring column, averaging 15.8 and 15.5 points, respectively. Hamilton is one of three players in the country (Ben Simmons, LSU; Kris Dunn, Providence) currently averaging 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals per game.

UP NEXT
• Louisiana will continue its three-game road trip beginning Tuesday when it heads to the West Coast to play PAC-12 opponent UCLA at historic Pauley Pavilion. The Ragin' Cajuns will remain in the Golden State and will face West Coast Conference member Pepperdine on Dec. 18 in Malibu, Calif.

QUICK HITS
• Shawn Long is the NCAA Division I active leader in both double-doubles (56) and rebounds (1,103). He ranks second among active NCAA Division I players in FG (685) and rebound average (10.3), fourth in points (1,819) and seventh in blocked shots (224).

• Louisiana has handed Louisiana Tech its only loss at home (89-80, 12/4/13) in the past 55 games dating back to February of 2012.

• Louisiana leads the Sun Belt Conference, and is second among Division I programs, in scoring with a 91.8 points per game average.

• With his next made 3-point field goal, Shawn Long will reach 100 for his career.

• Long is one of two players in the Sun Belt Conference (Kevin Hervey, UTA) averaging a double-double on the season.

• The Ragin' Cajuns +10.5 rebounding margin paces the Sun Belt Conference and is 19th among Division I programs.

Players Mentioned

Jay Hedgeman

Shawn Long

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Jay Wright

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