![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sam_Houston.png\")
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Next Game:<\/p>\n
at Sam Houston<\/p>\n
1\/31\/2026 | 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n Jan. 31 (Sat) \/ 9 p.m.
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\n at\u00a0Sam Houston
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EL PASO, Texas \u2013 Louisiana Tech picked up its first road victory of the season Wednesday night, knocking off UTEP 69-59 inside the Don Haskins Center to complete a season sweep of the Miners.
UP NEXT
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\nLA Tech (12-8, 5-4 CUSA), now winners of four of its last five, led for more than 30 minutes and never trailed in the second half, using balanced scoring, defensive pressure, and efficient shooting to secure the road victory.
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\nDJ Dudley<\/a> continued to showcase his offensive prowess, pacing the Bulldogs with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting while knocking down four three-pointers. Avery Thomas II<\/a> spearheaded LA Tech’s dominance on the glass, as the Bulldogs outrebounded the Miners 41-28, posting a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. AJ Bates<\/a> directed the offense, dishing out seven assists to go along with nine points.
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\nThe bench also provided a lift, led by Scooter Williams<\/a> with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Will Allen<\/a> chipped in eight points and eight boards.
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\nUTEP (7-14, 3-7 CUSA) came out firing on all cylinders, making five of its first six field goals to jump out to a 13-4 lead. LA Tech, which has grown accustomed to making comebacks, weathered the early storm by countering with a 10-0 run that featured back-to-back triples by Dudley.
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\nThe Bulldogs shot 48.3 percent from the floor in the first half, including five three-pointers, to build a 36-27 advantage at the break.
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\nDudley’s fourth triple made it a 52-38 lead with 12:20 remaining, matching LA Tech’s largest lead of the contest. UTEP fought back, using the free-throw line \u2013 where it made 16 of its 17 attempts in the second half \u2013 along with a three-pointer from Kaseem Watson to cut the deficit to three at 61-58 with 4:24 still to play.
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\nLA Tech’s defense responded by holding UTEP scoreless from the field the rest of the way, as the Miners went 0-for-6. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs closed the game at the foul line, scoring their final eight points to seal the win.
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\nLA Tech, which made a concerted effort to push the ball in transition, finished with 22 fast-break points and shot efficiently \u2013 45.3 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three-point range, and 77.8 percent at the free-throw line.
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\nDefensively, the Bulldogs held UTEP to a season-low 31.5 percent shooting from the field.
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\nQUOTABLES
\nHead coach Talvin Hester<\/a>
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\nOn the win\u2026
\n“We dominated on the glass tonight, and we got stops, turning those into easy points.\u00a0 That gave us a chance.\u00a0 UTEP is a stingy defense in the halfcourt.\u00a0 We were able to play in the full court, got some easy baskets.\u00a0 We were able to finish at the rim, which is something we have been working on.\u00a0 I was glad about how we responded early in the first half.\u00a0 I was also glad about how we responded towards the end of the game.\u00a0 UTEP made a run and got within three, but we got to the line and made free throws.\u00a0 That is how you can put people away.”
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\nOn the team’s defense\u2026
\n“I saw my guys diving after balls out of bounds, diving into chairs under the baskets.\u00a0 We played hard tonight.\u00a0 We did tough things, and those are the types of plays you need to win games.”
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\nNOTABLES<\/p>\n
\n\tWith the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus UTEP, 23-15.\u00a0 The Bulldogs swept the season series against the Miners (fifth time doing so) and have now won three straight in the series.
\n\tLA Tech claimed its first road win of the season.\u00a0 They have also now won four of their last five contests.
\n\tThe Bulldogs won their eighth game all-time over the Miners in El Paso.\u00a0 Since 2020, LA Tech has won five times at UTEP.
\n\tLA Tech collected its 140th career Conference USA win, becoming just the seventh program to reach that milestone since CUSA officially became a league in 1995.
\n\tLA Tech outrebounded UTEP, 41-28.\u00a0 It marked the seventh time this season the Bulldogs have had at least 10 more boards than their opponent.\u00a0 It was the ninth time with 40+ rebounds in a single game.
\n\tThe Bulldogs scored 22 fast-break points, the second most in a game this season.
\n\tLA Tech registered 30 paint points, marking the 15th time this season the Bulldogs have had at least 30 in a single game.\u00a0 They have done so in six of the last seven contests.
\n\tThe Bulldogs held the Miners to 59 points.\u00a0 It marked the ninth time this season the No. 2 scoring defense in the country held an opponent to 60 points or less.\u00a0 Under head coach Talvin Hester<\/a>, LA Tech is 32-2 when doing so.
\n\tDJ Dudley<\/a> led the Bulldogs in scoring for the 10th time this season, tallying 20 points.\u00a0 He has recorded 20+ points in four games this season, including each of the last three.\u00a0 He is the first Bulldog with three consecutive games of 20+ points since Cobe Williams (2023).\u00a0
\n\tAvery Thomas II<\/a> notched his second double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.\u00a0 He has led LA Tech in rebounding a team-high eight times (seven of the last 10).\u00a0
\n\tScooter Williams<\/a> came off the bench to tally 14 points, his ninth game this season in double digits.
\n\tDJ Dudley<\/a> extended his streak of games with at least one made three-pointer to 15 contests.\u00a0 He went 4-of-7 from downtown, marking the fourth time this season with at least four made triples.\u00a0
\n\tWill Allen<\/a> set a season high with eight points to go along with eight rebounds (second most in a game this season).
\n\tAJ Bates<\/a>, making his 20th consecutive start, dished out a game-high seven assists (eighth time this season with at least seven dimes).\u00a0
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\nThe road trip continues for LA Tech as they head to Huntsville, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 31 to face Sam Houston.\u00a0 Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. CT in a nationally televised contest on ESPN2.
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