Bulldogs to take on Nevada, Aggies

 

By MATT DEARMAN

mwd004@latech.edu

 

Bulldog basketball returns to the Thomas Assembly Center this week, where the team will be looking to defend its place as No. 1 and expand its lead in the Western Athletic Conference against third-place University of Nevada at 7 p.m. tonight before hosting second-place Utah State on Saturday.

Tech is currently 14-7 on the season and leads the WAC with a 7-1 conference mark. Nevada, who won the conference last season and was picked to win the WAC in many preseason polls, enters tonight’s game with a 15-5 record, sitting third in the conference with a 5-3 record.

Although Nevada would not pass Tech in the standings with a victory, a Wolfpack win would drop the Bulldogs to No. 2 in the WAC, while Utah State, who handed Tech its lone conference loss, would claim the top spot.

Tech enters the game led by junior Paul Millsap, who continues to draw closer to his third national rebounding title, averaging 12.7 rebounds and 20.7 points per game and having a team-high 46 blocks on the year.

Also looking to be a factor is Daevon Haskins, who leads the Bulldogs in assists with 109 and steals with 38.

Nevada is anchored by Nick Fazekas, who averages 20.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and has 23 steals and a team high 28 blocks on the year. Mo Charlo leads the Wolfpack in steals with 25.

Tech met Nevada twice last season, with the Wolfpack winning both games with scores of 64-56 in Ruston and 76-58 at Nevada.

“This is going to be a big week in the conference,” Tech head coach Keith Richard said. “We are very enthusiastic about the position we’ve put ourselves in.”

Following the meeting with Nevada, the Bulldogs will host Utah State at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the Thomas Assembly Center, with hopes of avenging their 64-55 loss on Jan. 18.

Just one game behind Tech in the WAC standings, Utah State could pull ahead of the Bulldogs by way of a tie breaker with any Tech loss this weekend, and, with wins over Hawaii and tonight over New Mexico State, could claim the top place outright with a victory Saturday.

The Aggies (14-4, 5-2 WAC) are led by Nate Harris with 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and Jaycee Carroll with 17.1 points per game and a team best 23 steals on the season.

“One of these three teams is going to take a big step forward this week,” Richard said.

“These are going to be two very big home games. We’re looking forward to it.”

 

 

Techsters to play two away games

 

By JJ MARSHALL

jjm023@latech.edu

 

The Lady Techsters are back atop the WAC standings after a home sweep of previously undefeated Fresno State and San Jose State.

This week they travel to Nevada and Utah State, looking to create some space in the standings.

Tasha Williams, returning WAC player of the year, leads the Techsters in scoring with 13 points per game, but she has had plenty of help this year.

Five players are averaging at least 10 points per game, leading a more productive, more balanced scoring attack.

Nevada enters the week at 3-4 in WAC play and 7-12 overall.

Utah State has not won a WAC game in its first year in the conference, and sits at the bottom of the standings.

Junior guard Shan Moore was named WAC player of the week last week, averaging 19 points and 6.5 rebounds against two of the top teams in the conference.

For the season, Moore averages 10.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds.

The Lady Techsters have won nine of their last 10 games.