RUSTON – Isaiah Crawford scored a game-high 24 points and Tahirik Chavez scored a game-high 24 points as Louisiana Tech won its season series against FIU 75-68 inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court on Saturday afternoon. scored 22 points.
The scoring duo shot 70.6 percent from the field (12-of-17) and made all six of the team's 3-pointers and 16 free throws, leading the Los Angeles Tech (18-8, 8-1) He contributed to the victory over CUSA (3 losses). On the homestand, they remain undefeated in two games and remain in first place in the league.
For the Dogs, a big difference in the first half made the difference between winning and losing the game. LA Tech shot 60.9% from the field, 71.4% from threes and 90.9% from the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes. They also shut down FIU (8-18, 3-8 CUSA), which only made eight field goals, in the process.
Three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Crawford and one by Chavez, led the Bulldogs to an early 9-0 run to take an 11-4 lead. Jordan Crawford's steal and fast-break layup put LA Tech up 22-9 and forced FIU to take a timeout with 11:32 remaining.
The lead reached its maximum just before halftime when Isaiah Crawford made a contested layup off the glass, giving the home team a 43-26 advantage heading into the locker room.
Things were different in the second half, with LA Tech not having much success offensively. Meanwhile, the Panthers' pressure started to hurt the Bulldogs. With 5 minutes and 12 seconds left, back-to-back 3-pointers by Petar Krivokapic and Jadon Lipscomb cut the lead to single digits, 65-56.
But Los Angeles Tech, playing without the services of starters Daniel Baccio and Sean Newman Jr., held FIU at bay in the homestretch, converting a key putback from Will Allen and three free throws from Chavez. Ta.
Los Angeles Tech shot 47.9 percent from the field, making 6 of 10 3-pointers and 23 of 29 free throws, with Devin Lee third in double figures with 11. He became a Bulldog player.
FIU had three Panthers score in double figures, led by Arturo Dean, who had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
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Head Coach Talvin Hester
As for winning…
“We played so well in the first half that we were able to withstand the storm in the second half. I don't think we had the same concentration in the first half and second half. I thought we started looking at the scoreboard. In that second half, We showed a lack of maturity. FIU is rowdy. They remember how the first game was and they weren't going to go through the game that way.”
On winning without Baccio and Newman Jr…
“Next guy up. They asked me who I thought would step up, and I didn't know. Tarik, Isaiah and Devin did enough offensively for us to get the win. We were very good defensively in the first half. We had multiple players, but we couldn't stay in the same group due to foul trouble. At the end of the day, we had a better rebounding group without Daniel Baccio. This shows that we believe in others.”
On Tahirik Chavez preparing for another big game against FIU…
“We needed that. He had a big half. Once the ball goes inside, that basket is really big for him. He starts hitting them in transition, off the catch. We needed every point we got today. Will Allen's tip-in might have been the most important bucket because FIU was running away.”
About Devin Lee…
“I think he's improving every day. I don't think I've ever seen a jump this big since he came in the summer until now. He was struggling and his head was light-headed. He had limited minutes in a lot of games. Then he slowly started to understand it and I started to have confidence in him. His future is really bright.”
Guard Tahirik Chavez
About this home victory…
“It shows we have a really deep bench. If someone is out, anyone can always step up.”
Regarding the match against FIU…
“I'm just playing in the game. Coach tells me to hold the corner so other players can get baskets. And if they start getting away from me, it's It’s my time.”
About his confidence…
“I don't think about missed shots at all. I'm confident in my effort every day. I know the ball will go in eventually.”
Celebrity
With the win, Los Angeles Tech now leads the all-time series against FIU with a 13-8 record. The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game against the Panthers, the longest winning streak in the series by either team. They have also won seven of the past eight meetings with FIU.
LA Tech improves to 13-1 at home this season with two games left in the TAC.
The Bulldogs held the lead for 36:19 of the game. He played the least amount of time, playing more than 30 minutes in 12 of the 14 home games this season.
The Bulldogs had a different starting lineup for the ninth time this season.
Los Angeles Tech held FIU to under 40 points for the 16th time this season, holding FIU to 36.7 percent from the field.
LA Tech outscored FIU 39-29, outrebounding their opponent for the 19th time this season (out of 26 games). The Bulldogs also pulled down double-digit offensive boards (13) for the 20th time.
The Bulldogs made 23 free throws, the second-most in a game this season.
Los Angeles Tech had seven blocked shots, marking the 14th time this season (and seventh in the last eight games) that it was denied at least five times in a game.
LA Tech made just 10 3-pointers, the fewest in a single game this season. The Bulldogs made six of them, making them at least 60 percent from beyond the arc for the first time since 2019.
Isaiah Crawford led the Bulldogs in scoring for the 10th time this season, scoring 24 points (seventh time this year with 20 or more points).
Tahirik Chavez scored 22 points, marking his sixth game of the season with 20 or more points. This is the fifth time this season that LA Tech has had two Bulldogs score 20 or more points in a single game.
Tahirik Chavez made 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, marking the 15th time this season he has hit at least three triples in a game.
Devin Lee scored in double digits for the second time this season, scoring 11 points.
Will Allen anchored the Bulldogs in rebounding for the first time this season with seven boards.
Isaiah Crawford ranks 24th all-time in points (1,398) and 22nd in rebounds (558).
Isaiah Crawford had a game-high four blocks, marking the seventh time this season he had at least three rejections in a game. He has 10 blocks in the last three games and has 46 blocks this season.
Isaiah Crawford stole two bases for the 15th time this season. He has 59 stolen bases this season, the 10th most in a single season in program history (16 in the last five games).
next
LA Tech begins a trifecta of road games at UTEP on Thursday, February 22nd. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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