Big night for Crawford headlines LA Tech;s 91-69 win over UTSA

RUSTON – Isaiah Crawford paced Louisiana Tech on offense and defense, registering a game-high 20 points to go along with a career-high six steals, to help the Bulldogs get past UTSA on Thursday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court, 91-69.

Three fellow Bulldogs joined the forward in double figures with Keaston Willis adding 17, Cobe Williams with 16, and Dravon Mangum off the bench for 15 as LA Tech (8-5, 1-1 C-USA) shot a season-best 53.8 percent from the field.

Meanwhile, the ‘Dogs won the battle of the boards (+11 rebounding margin) and had the combination of taking care of the basketball with a season-low eight turnovers while also taking it away (forced 17 that turned into 22 points).

LA Tech gained a little separation in the first half, going on a 10-3 run to take a 33-23 edge with 6:48 remaining in the stanza. Despite giving up seven three-pointers to UTSA (6-7, 0-2 C-USA) through the first 20 minutes, the ‘Dogs held a 43-36 halftime edge.

With the Roadrunners still hanging around, trailing by 12 (76-64) with 6:17 to play in the game, LA Tech gradually started to increase its lead. The ‘Dogs allowed just one made field goal the rest of the way, outscoring the visitors, 15-5 over the final six minutes (including back-to-back layups by Isaiah Crawford).

LA Tech outscored UTSA, 22-4, on points from turnovers and 54-16 on points in the paint.
ANOTHER ONE. pic.twitter.com/S2Pqv60mPc
— Bulldog Basketball (@LATechHoops) December 30, 2022

After going 12-of-23 from the field in the first half, the Roadrunners were limited to 9-of-24 shooting in the second half, finishing at 44.7 percent. John Buggs III tallied a team-high 20 points.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester

“I thought our big three – Keaston, Cobe, and Isaiah – were huge tonight. The key to our car has been Jordan Crawford. For a freshman to come into this game and have seven assists to zero turnovers, he got guys shots and let our big three be great. We started off well going to Isaiah, getting him some touches. I felt like he was really locked in. And from our five spot, Kenny and Will together they had 14 rebounds and 12 points.”

Isaiah Crawford
“The win feels good. We executed and played solid defense, tried to take care of the basketball and make smart plays. I feel like I am getting used to being back on the floor, being more aggressive. That is what the coaches keep telling me to do.”

NOTABLES
• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series over UTSA, 17-6. The Bulldogs have won five straight over the Roadrunners, tying for the longest winning streak in the series. All five wins have come by double figures.
• LA Tech improved to 9-1 in its first home C-USA games.
• LA Tech improved to 70-11 at home in C-USA action, the best winning percentage of any team in the league.
• The 91 points was the second most points scored by the Bulldogs against the Roadrunners (most was 95 last season). It was the third time this season LA Tech has scored 90+ points.
• LA Tech committed a season-low eight turnovers.
• The LA Tech defense forced 17 turnovers, marking the 10th time this season (out of 13 games) that the Bulldogs have forced 15+.
• Isaiah Crawford registered his sixth career 20-point scoring game with 20 points (third time this season). He also recorded a career-high six steals, the most by a Bulldog since DaQuan Bracey had six in 2019. He became the 13th Bulldog in program history to post at least six steals in a single game (tied for second most ever in a C-USA game).
• Cobe Williams netted 16 points, scoring in double figures for the ninth time this season (out of 11 games). He now has 972 career points. He also dished out five assists, the fourth time this season with at least five in a single game.
• Dravon Mangum notched 15 points, making four three-pointers. He is now 9-of-15 from downtown over the last two games.
• Keaston Willis scored 17 points, including three made three-pointers. It marked the 46th time in his career he has made at least three triples in a single game.
• Jordan Crawford dished out a game-high seven assists, marking the seventh time this season he has recorded at least five in a single game.
UP NEXT
LA Tech heads to the east coast to battle Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 31. The New Year’s Eve showdown will tipoff at 1 p.m. CT and be live streamed on ESPN+.

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