Louisiana Tech set to take on UAB

RUSTON, La. – Two of the top defenses in Conference USA will meet up on the hardwood Saturday afternoon as Louisiana Tech closes out its road swing at UAB with tipoff set for 2 p.m. at Bartow Arena.

Louisiana Tech (14-5, 5-2 C-USA) was able to rebound from a heartbreaking loss at home by defeating Middle Tennessee 80-73 in Murfreesboro this past Thursday.

The Blue Raiders made a furious run late in the game, but in the end the Bulldogs were too good offensively, as they shot a season-best 59.2 percent from the field to notch their third conference road win this season, tied for the most in the league.

Mubarak Muhammed was dominant in the win, notching his fifth double-double of the season by recording careerhighs in points (22) and rebounds (17). The senior forward went 9-of-10 shooting, the best fieldgoal percentage of any Bulldog in a game this season.

He currently leads the conference in rebounds, averaging 9.6 per game, and has registered 10-plus boards in four straight games.

Louisiana Tech, who is in a three-way for third in the league standings, continues to lead C-USA in scoring defense and fieldgoal percentage defense, allowing just 61.3 points and 38.3 percent shooting.

UAB (12-8, 3-4 C-USA) is equally as good defensively, allowing just 63.0 points per game while opponents are shooting only 39.9 percent from the field. Both marks rank in the top three in C-USA and in the top 60 in the country.

The Blazers are in a fiveway tie for seventh in the standings after suffering an 84-77 loss at home to Southern Miss this past Thursday.

The 77 points scored

tied for the second most all season with Jalen Benjamin scoring a career-high 29 points.

Benjamin is one of two Blazers averaging double-figures in scoring at 12.5 points per game.

A lot of his damage comes from beyond the arc (31 made 3-pointers) and from the foul line (57 made free throws). Both totals lead the squad.

UAB leads the all-time series over Louisiana Tech 8-6, but the Bulldogs hold a 6-4 edge since they became league foes.

Tim Smith/Louisiana Tech Sports Information Looking for a teammate: Louisiana Tech's Cobe Williams holds the ball during a game earlier this season in Ruston, La. The Bulldogs play at UAB today.