Bulldogs to challenge Hawaii in TAC tonight

 

By MATT DEARMAN

mwd004@latech.edu

 

Two of the Western Athletic Conference’s remaining three teams with perfect conference records will square off tonight when the Bulldogs play host to the University of Hawaii at 7 p.m. in Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech enters the contest with a 9-6 overall record, with a 2-0 mark in WAC play. Hawaii stands at 8-4 overall and is also 2-0 in the WAC.

“This will be a great, early-conference showdown,” Tech head coach Keith Richard said.

“The atmosphere should be great. You won’t see better live basketball in this area.”

Tech enters the game on a two-game winning streak, defeating conference opponents Boise State and the University of Idaho on the road last week, while Hawaii will look for its second straight victory after defeating conference foe Nevada on Jan. 5 in Hawaii.

Both teams enter the game having already recorded notable wins earlier in the season.

The Bulldogs biggest win of the season came on Dec. 7 when the team traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to take on coaching legend Bobby Knight and his Texas Tech Red Raiders, who were sitting on a 34-1 non-conference home record before being upset 68-53 by the Bulldogs that night.

Hawaii’s season highlight came Nov. 11 when they bested then No. 4-ranked Michigan State 84-62.

Leading the Bulldogs in the contest will be two-time national rebounding champion junior Paul Millsap, who leads the team in three categories, including points (311), blocks (26) and rebounds (179).

Millsap was also named WAC athlete of the week for his performances against Idaho and Boise State, where he averaged 19.5 points and 15 rebounds per game.

Team depth also looks to be a benefit for the Bulldogs, who have 10 players averaging 10 or more minutes of action a game.

“Our success has been a team effort this season,” Richard said. “We have a lot of depth, and it’s really helped us.”

Hawaii will be led by Julian Sensley, Matt Lojeski and Ahmet Gueye, each of whom have recorded over 150 points on the year. Sensley is currently the team scoring leader with 173, as well as the leader in steals with 17.

Gueye leads Hawaii in blocks with 33 and rebounds with 101.

Following the game with Hawaii, the Bulldogs will host Fresno State University on at 7 p.m. in Thomas Assembly Center on Jan. 14.

Fresno State currently sits at 8-4 on the year and is the WAC’s final unbeaten team with a conference record of 1-0.

Fresno is led by Quinton Hosley, a player who has recorded 237 points, 122 rebounds and 31 steals on the year.

Techsters on the road against Hawaii, Fresno

By JJ MARSHALL

jjm023@latech.edu

The Lady Techsters will travel to Hawaii and Fresno this week looking to pick up the team’s third and fourth wins in WAC play this year.

Tonight the Techsters will take on Hawaii at 11 p.m.

Hawaii enters the game 1-0 in conference play, and 9-2 in the over-all season.

Hawaii has won its last 7 games, but both of its losses this year are at home.

Saturday, the Techsters will take on 9-4 Fresno State, who are also 1-0 in the WAC this season. Fresno State has only lost one game at home this season.

Aarica Ray-Boyd is the Techsters leading scorer, with 13.2 a game.

Tasha Williams and Eboni Mangum are the other two double-digit scorers with 12.9 per game and 10.3, respectively.

Ty Moore was named WAC athlete of the week after scoring 32 points and 22 rebounds in the opening two games last week.

Moore enters the game averaging 9.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds.

She has as many offensive rebounds as defensive on the year (55).

The Techsters head into a big week atop the WAC standings at 2-0.

The team is 10-3 overall, but all three losses have come on the road.

The Techsters have won the last 5 games, and 8 of the last 9.