UMass Look to Bounce Back Against Louisiana Tech Seeking Third Win
UMass Minutemen Eye Road Win After West Virginia Loss; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Pursue Third Straight Victory
The UMass Minutemen (1-1) will look to rebound from their first loss of the season as they take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-0) in a Wednesday night showdown at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game is set to tip off at 6:00 PM ET, and both teams are eager to build momentum heading into the rest of their respective schedules.
UMass Minutemen: Looking for a Road Victory After West Virginia Setback
After a promising season opener where they dispatched New Hampshire, the Minutemen were handed a 75-69 defeat by West Virginia in their last outing. Despite covering the spread as 9.5-point underdogs, UMass struggled to maintain consistency on both ends of the floor.
Through their first two games, the Minutemen have impressed offensively, averaging an eye-popping 86 points per game. However, defensive inefficiencies have been a glaring issue, as UMass is allowing 74.5 points per game. They’ll need to tighten up defensively if they hope to earn their first road victory of the season against a well-balanced Louisiana Tech squad.
In the loss to West Virginia, the Minutemen’s offense was led by Rahsool Diggins, who poured in 19 points. He has been a key contributor, especially in the backcourt. Daniel Rivera added 14 points and 9 rebounds, showing his capability as a versatile forward. Meanwhile, Daniel Hankins-Sanford chipped in with a double-double, posting 13 points and 11 rebounds, though his efforts were not enough to overcome the Mountaineers.
While UMass’ offensive firepower is evident, their shooting efficiency leaves room for improvement. In their defeat to West Virginia, the Minutemen hit just 41.7% of their field goals and 28.6% from beyond the arc—figures they’ll need to improve on against a tough Louisiana Tech defense.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Undefeated and High Scoring
On the other side, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have been one of the early-season surprises, coming off a 92-77 win over UT Arlington as slight underdogs. The Bulldogs have shown tremendous offensive firepower, averaging 84.5 points per game through their first two contests. Their recent victory saw them shoot an impressive 50.8% from the field and a solid 40% from three-point range, both of which have made them one of the more potent offenses early in the season.
The Bulldogs have a dynamic scoring duo in Daniel Batcho and Amaree Abram. Batcho, who put up a game-high 28 points along with 7 rebounds, has been a force inside and on the perimeter. Abram, the 6-3 guard, added 23 points and 3 assists in the win against UT Arlington and continues to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Louisiana Tech’s defense has been relatively strong, allowing just 63.5 points per game. However, they did give up 77 points in their last game, a stat they’ll want to improve upon to avoid being caught in a high-scoring shootout against UMass.
The Bulldogs have been excellent at controlling the tempo, thanks to Will Jeffress, who has shown his versatility by contributing 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win against UT Arlington. Jeffress’ ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game makes him a crucial player for Louisiana Tech’s success.
Conclusion
This game will be an exciting test for both teams early in the season. UMass is searching for a road win to bounce back from a tough loss, while Louisiana Tech looks to continue their strong start to the season. With the Minutemen’s offensive firepower and the Bulldogs’ balanced play, this matchup has the potential to be an entertaining back-and-forth contest. Stay tuned for a thrilling game that could set the tone for both teams as they continue their journeys through the season.
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