Crawford, Chavez lead LA Tech to 75-68 win over FIU

RUSTON – Isaiah Crawford scored a game-high 24 points while Tahlik Chavez tallied 22 as Louisiana Tech swept the season series against FIU with a 75-68 victory on Saturday afternoon inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.

The scoring duo combined to shoot 70.6 percent from the field (12-of-17) while also making all six of the team’s three-pointers as well as 16 free throws to help LA Tech (18-8, 8-3 CUSA) go undefeated in its two-game home stand and remain atop the league standings.

A big first half was the difference in the game for the ‘Dogs. LA Tech shot 60.9 percent from the field, 71.4 percent from three, and 90.9 percent from the charity stripe through the first 20 minutes. They also locked down FIU (8-18, 3-8 CUSA) in the process who could muster only eight made field goals.

Three straight three-pointers – two by Crawford and one by Chavez – gave the Bulldogs an early 9-0 run and an 11-4 lead. A Jordan Crawford steal and fastbreak layup made it 22-9 in favor of LA Tech, forcing a timeout by FIU with 11:32 to go in the stanza.

The lead maxed out right before halftime when Isaiah Crawford made a contested layup off the glass to give the home team a 43-26 advantage going into the locker room.

The second half was a different story as LA Tech could not get much going offensively. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ pressure started to take its toll on the Bulldogs. The visitors would get their deficit down to single digits, 65-56, after back-to-back threes from Petar Krivokapic and Jaidon Lipscomb with 5:12 still to go.

However, LA Tech, playing without the services of starters Daniel Batcho and Sean Newman Jr., was able to keep FIU at bay down the home stretch, getting a key putback by Will Allen and a trio of free throws by Chavez.

Devin Ree was the third Bulldog in double figures with 11 as LA Tech finished the game 47.9 percent from the field, making six of their 10 three-point attempts and 23 of their 29 free throws attempts.

FIU had three Panthers in double figures, led by Arturo Dean who had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Talvin Hester

On the win …
“We played so good the first half that we were able to withstand the storm in the second half. I don’t think we had the same focus in the two halves. I thought we started watching the scoreboard. We kind of showed a lack of maturity in that second half. FIU is scrappy. They remember how the game went the first time and they were not going to go out like that.”

On winning without Batcho and Newman Jr. …
“Next man up. I was being asked who I thought would step up and I did not know. Tahlik, Isaiah, and Devin stepped up enough for us offensively to get a win. The first half was so exceptionally defensively. It was multiple guys going in, but foul trouble ended up not allowing us to stay with the same group. At the end of the day, we have to be a better rebounding group without Daniel Batcho inside. This has shown we believe in other guys.”

On Tahlik Chavez having another big game against FIU …
“We needed it. He was having a big half. Once the ball goes in, that basket gets really big for him. He can start 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 making a run.”

On Devin Ree …
“I think he is growing every day. From the time we came in the summer to now, I do not think I have seen a bigger jump. He was struggling, his head was spinning. He had limited minutes in a lot of games. Then he started to figure it out slowly and I started to build confidence in him. The future is really bright for him.”

Guard Tahlik Chavez

On winning this home stretch …
“It shows we have a really deep bench. Anytime someone is out, anyone can step up at any moment.”

On playing against FIU …
“I am just playing within the game. Coaches tell me to hold the corners so other guys can get baskets. Then when they start leaving me, that is my time.”

On his confidence …
“I never think about any missed shot. I confident in the work I put in every day. I know the ball is going to go in eventually.”

NOTABLES

With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus FIU, 13-8. The Bulldogs have won four straight over the Panthers, the longest winning streak by either team in the series. They have also now won seven of the last eight meetings against FIU.
LA Tech improved to 13-1 at home this season with two games remaining in the TAC.
The Bulldogs held the lead for 36:19 in the game. They have had the least for 30+ minutes in 12 of their 14 home games this season.
The Bulldogs had their ninth different starting lineup this season.
LA Tech held FIU to 36.7 percent shooting from the field, marking the 16th time this season holding an opponent to under 40.
LA Tech outrebounded FIU, 39-29, marking the 19th time (out of 26 games) this season they have outrebounded their opponent. The Bulldogs also pulled down double-digit offensive boards (13) for the 20th time.
The Bulldogs knocked down 23 free throws, tied for the second most in a single game this season.
LA Tech registered seven blocked shots, the 14th time this season with at least five rejections in a single game (seventh time in the last eight games).
LA Tech took only 10 three-point attempts, the fewest in a single game this season. The Bulldogs made six of them, marking the first time since 2019 they shot at least 60 percent from beyond the arc.
Isaiah Crawford led the Bulldogs in scoring for the 10th time this season, tallying 24 points (seventh 20+ scoring performance of the year).
Tahlik Chavez registered 22 points, his sixth game this season with 20+ points. It is the fifth time this season LA Tech had two Bulldogs scored 20+ points in a single game.
Tahlik Chavez went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, the 15th time this season with at least three made triples in a single game.
Devin Ree scored in double figures for the second time this season, tallying 11 points.
Will Allen anchored the Bulldogs in rebounding for the first time this season with seven boards.
Isaiah Crawford moved up to 24th all-time in career scoring (1,398), 22nd in career rebounding (558).
Isaiah Crawford had a game-high four blocks, marking the seventh time this season with at least three rejections in a single game. He has 10 blocks in the last three games and 46 for the season.
Isaiah Crawford registered two steals, the 15th time this season with multiple steals. He now has 59 steals for the season, the 10th most in a single season in program history (has 16 in the last five games).

UP NEXT
LA Tech begins a three-game road stretch on Thursday, Feb. 22 at UTEP. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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