LOUISIANA TECH 2020-21 BULLDOG BASKETBALL GAMEDAY INFO GAME 30 MATCHUP DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 25 | 9 p.m. CT LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS (22-7) LOCATION: Comerica Center (Frisco, Texas) Head Coach: Eric Konkol SERIES HISTORY: WKU leads 20-17 Record at LA Tech: 127-64 (6th year) LAST MEETING: Jan. 9, 2021 | Bowling Green, Ky. Career Record: Same Record vs. WKU: 3-5 LA Tech 63, WKU 58 MEDIA: ESPN2 VS TALENT: John Schriffen (pxp), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network WKU HILLSTOPPERS (21-7) TALENT: Malcolm Butler (pxp), Jack Thigpen (analyst) Head Coach: Rick Stansbury Record at WKU: 103-59 (5th year) STATS: LATechSports.com Career Record: 396-225 (19th year) Record vs. LA Tech: 7-3 2020-21 SCHEDULE BULLDOG STORYLINES Overall: 22-7 | C-USA: 12-4 | H: 15-1 | A: 5-5 | N: 2-1 • Louisiana Tech attempts to make its second trip ever to the NIT Final Four when they face WKU in the quarterfinals on Thursday night at 9 p.m. inside the Comerica Center. NOVEMBER MEDIA W/L SCORE The game will be a battle of C-USA divisional champions (Bulldogs were West Divison 27 UT ARLINGTON^ CUSA.tv W 76-71 champs and the Hilltoppers were East Division champs). 29 NORTHWESTERN STATE^ CUSA.tv W 91-77 • The No. 4 seed LA Tech advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting No. 1 seed Ole DECEMBER 3 ULM CUSA.tv W 78-62 Miss, 70-61. The Bulldogs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Rebels, 6 at LSU SECN L 55-86 43-24, in the second half. It marked the largest comeback of the season and the largest 9 SOUTHEASTERN LA. CUSA.tv W 78-69 comeback ever for LA Tech in an NIT game. It was only just the fourth time this entire 12 at UL-Lafayette ESPN+ L 56-61 season the ‘Dogs trailed by double-digits in a single game. 15 JACKSON STATE CUSA.tv W 85-58 19 LAMAR CUSA.tv W 86-57 • In the victory, LA Tech forced 21 turnovers (second most this season) while amassing 22 at ULM ESPN+ W 68-57 a season-high 15 steals. The 15 steals was the most against a D1 opponent since 2016 JANUARY and the most ever by the Bulldogs in a postseason game. 1 MARSHALL* ESPN+ W 75-68 2 MARSHALL* ESPN+ L 73-80 • Kenneth Lofton, Jr. overpowered Ole Miss, recording a career-high 22 points to go 8 at WKU* CBS SN L 64-66 along with a team-high seven rebounds. The 22 points was the most ever scored by a 9 at WKU* CBS SN W 63-58 Bulldog freshman in a postseason game. It was his 19th double-digit scoring game and 15 UTSA* ESPN+ W 77-66 16 UTSA* ESPN+ W 82-66 his third 20-point scoring performance of the season. 22 at UTEP* ESPN+ L 74-82 23 at UTEP* ESPN+ W 73-55 • LA Tech has now held 13 straight opponents to less than 70 points, tied for the second 28 at Southern Miss* CBS SN W 76-63 longest streak in program history since 1950 (had a streak of 13 straight in 1985-86, the 30 SOUTHERN MISS* ESPN+ W 65-62 year the team advanced to the NIT Final Four). Over this 13-game stretch, opponents are averaging just 60.5 points per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field. FEBRUARY 5 at North Texas* Stadium W 68-63 6 at North Texas* Stadium L 55-57 • Amorie Archibald dished out seven assists versus the Rebels. The senior has a streak 12 UAB* Stadium W 70-58 of six straight games with 5+ assists, the longest streak by a Bulldog since Archibald did 13 UAB* Stadium W 69-64 it in 12 consecutive games as a freshman in 2017-18. For his career, he has 376 assists, 20 at Middle Tennessee* ESPN+ canceled the ninth most in program history. 21 at Middle Tennessee* ESPN+ canceled 26 RICE* CUSA.tv W 101-57 27 RICE* CBS SN W 79-58 • The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 17 games. It is the eighth time in the last nine seasons the team has won 20+ games (have won 22+ games seven times). They are MARCH currently one of only 20 teams in the country to win 20+ games at least eight times in 3 OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CUSA.tv W 99-66 the last nine seasons. 11 vs. Florida Atlantic& Stadium W 75-69 12 vs. North Texas& CBS SN L 48-54 • Thursday will mark the second time in program history that LA Tech will face a con- 19 vs. Ole Miss# ESPN2 W 70-61 25 vs. WKU# ESPN2 9 p.m. ference foe in postseason play. The Bulldogs played then Southland Conference foe McNeese State in the 1986 NIT (won 77-61). LA Tech and WKU will meet for the third All home games CAPS | All times CST and subject to change time this season. * C-USA game ^ Louisiana Tech Classic presented by Hampton Inn of Ruston • Eric Konkol was named C-USA Coach of the Year and NABC District 11 Coach of the & C-USA Tournament (Frisco, Texas) Year while Kenneth Lofton, Jr. was named C-USA Freshman of the Year. Since joining # National Invitation Tournament the league, the Bulldogs have totaled nine superlative awards which is the most of any program during that time. @LATECHHOOPS @LATECHHOOPS LATECHMBB • On Jan. 25, head coach Eric Konkol announced Jace Bass is no longer with program JACE BASS • Jr. • G • 6-3 • 165 • Carson, Calif. • Saw action in nine total games, averaging 9.0 minutes per contest • Totaled 33 points for a scoring average of 3.7 points 0 TRANSFERRING • Recorded career-highs in minutes (14), points (11) and boards (9) vs. OLLU (3/3) KENNY HUNTER • Fr. • F • 6-9 • 235 • Shreveport, La. • Has seen limited action in 10 games, making eight of his 17 field goal attempts MIN PTS RBS BLKS FG% 3FG% FT% • Saw his first action as a Bulldog vs. ULM (12/3), recorded one rebound and one block 1 • Named District MVP and First Team 4A All-State as a senior at Huntington HS 3.4 1.7 1.2 0.5 47% 100% 0% • Has a wing span of 7’4” • Leads Bulldogs in rebounds (211), FT attempts (133) and FTs made (79) KENNETH LOFTON, JR. • Fr. • F • 6-7 • 275 • Port Arthur, Texas • Has started in the last 25 straight games w/ first career start coming vs. SLU (12/9) MIN PTS RBS BLKS FG% 3FG% FT% • Coming into postseason, averaging 14.0 points/9.2 boards PG over last 12 games 2 • Has registered seven double-doubles, third most in C-USA 22.0 11.4 7.3 0.6 56% ----- 59% • Named District OPOY, TABC 5A All-Region and 5A All-State as a high school senior • Has played most minutes of any Bulldog this season (averaging 30.2 mins. per game) AMORIE ARCHIBALD • Sr. • G • 6-3 • 185 • Deltona, Fla. • Scored a season-high 22 points against UTSA (1/16) MIN PTS RBS ASTS FG% 3FG% FT% • Became 43rd member of 1,000-point club after scoring 14 at WKU (1/9) 3 • Made 100th career start vs. OLLU (3/3), became 14th Bulldog ever to reach milestone 30.3 10.0 3.1 3.2 36% 31% 80% • Was an All-State quarterback in high school at Trinity Christian Academy • Has seen limited action this season (eight games) LANE HARTLEY • Sr. • G • 6-2 • 200 • Chatham, La. • Played a career-high 12 minutes vs. OLLU (3/3), recording 2 points and 3 rebounds MIN PTS RBS ASTS FG% 3FG% FT% • Made both 3-point FG attempts in back-to-back games vs. Rice (2/26-27) 4 • Saw first action in 2020-21 season vs. ULM (12/3), played in final minute 3.1 1.1 0.4 0.3 38% 40% 50% • Leads the team with a max bench press of 315 pounds • Registered season-high 25 points vs. Rice (2/26), hit six threes KALOB LEDOUX • R-Sr. • G • 6-4 • 190 • Port Barre, La. • Returned to the court at USM (1/28), scored nine points, after missing four games MIN PTS RBS ASTS FG% 3FG% FT% • Has made 214 career three-pointers between his time at LA Tech and McNeese St. 5 • Has made multiple three-pointers in 13 games this season (made 17 in last 6 games) 25.7 11.2 4.0 0.8 41% 40% 76% • Has a twin brother, Jacob, who he played with at McNeese State before transferring • After playing in just 4 of first 13 games, has played in all 16 games since (12.2 mpg) XAIVER ARMSTEAD • Sr. • G • 6-5 • 200 • Waco, Texas • Scored a career-high 16 points vs. OLLU (3/3), making 3 three-pointers MIN PTS RBS ASTS FG% 3FG% FT% • Has recorded 13 assists in the last six games combined 10 • 73 of his 103 career field goal attempts have been three-pointers 10.6 3.3 1.6 0.8 37% 37% 86% • Spent two years at McLennan CC in Waco, Texas • Scored 18 vs. UTSA (1/15), making 11 FTs (most by Bulldog since 2017) JACOLBY PEMBERTON • R-Sr. • G • 6-5 • 195 • Dallas, Texas • Registered third straight double-double vs. ULM (12/3) w/ 12 points and 11 boards MIN PTS RBS ASTS FG% 3FG% FT% • Has grabbed at least seven rebounds in 13 games 11 • Has played in 110 career games, making 66 starts 27.6 8.9 5.9 1.3 44% 30% 70% • One of three redshirt seniors, sat our freshman year due to knee injury from HS • Registered a career-high 10 points and 6 rebounds vs.