The Liberty Flames (11-3, 3-0 CUSA) will look to stay in the Flames after winning five straight by playing at Louisiana Tech (8-6, 1-2) Thursday night to open a two-game road swing this weekend.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
7 p.m. ET | Thursday, January 8
Ruston, Louisiana | Thomas Assembly Center
TV: CBS Sports Network
Liberty vs Louisiana Tech Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -3
Projected score: Liberty 68, Louisiana Tech 65
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Senior Guard | 5’10”, 170
2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.6 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
2025-26 stats: 14.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.2 apg
#4 Brett Decker
Sophomore Guard | 6’3″, 190
2025-26 stats: 18.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 50.9% 3-point field goals
#9 JJ Harper
R-Senior Guard | 6’5″, 200
2025-26 stats: 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
2025-26 stats: 10.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 7.4 apg
Liberty vs Louisiana Tech History
Series tied, 2-2. All four meetings have occurred in the past two seasons since Liberty moved to CUSA. The teams have split each year’s season series.
Liberty vs Louisiana Tech Storylines
COMPETITIVE SERIES THUS FAR
Liberty and Louisiana Tech had never met prior to the Flames joining Conference USA a couple years ago. Since then, the two programs have had very competitive battles as the series history is tied at 2 with each team winning on their own home floor and splitting the season series each year. Three of the four meetings have been decided by 5 points or fewer, including an overtime contest. The Flames have never won at the Thomas Assembly Center, dropping both contests played in Ruston. The Flames fell in Ruston last season, 79-74, despite 33 points from Taelon Peter. Colin Porter only played 22 minutes in the game as he missed much of the second half due to an injury.
NEW LOOK BULLDOGS
As is the case around most of the CUSA, it’s a new look team for coach Talvin Hester and his Bulldogs. Gone are the leaders of the team from last year like Daniel Batcho, Sean Newman and Amaree Abram. Only a couple of familiar faces return in AJ Bates and Kaden Cooper. The rest have been additions to this year’s team.
La Tech projected starting lineup:
6’3″, Jr, G, DJ Dudley
6’3″, So, G, AJ Bates
6’6″, Jr, G, Kaden Cooper
6’8″, So, F, Avery Thomas
6’10”, Sr, F, Sir Isaac Heron
Dudley, a JUCO transfer, leads the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game while shooting 39.6% from three. Bates is averaging 11.7 points per game, as he has seen an increased role after averaging 4.6 points per game last season. Cooper is in his second year at Louisiana Tech after transferring from Oklahoma. He averaged 9.3 points per game last year but was 0/5 from the field in 42 minutes with just 2 points in the two games against Liberty last season. So far this season, Cooper is averaging 10.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Thomas is a JUCO transfer in his first year at Louisiana Tech. He is averaging 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Heron is a transfer from Oral Roberts who is averaging 5.5 points per game. Likely their first player off the bench will be 6’4″ senior guard Scooter Williams. He is a transfer from East Texas A&M and is averaging 10 points per game so far this season.
BULLDOGS LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM TWO STRAIGHT DEFEATS
Louisiana Tech had a decent non-conference season, going 7-4 with their best win coming at home over Indiana State. They then opened CUSA play at home on Monday, Dec. 29 with a win over UTEP, 75-63. The Bulldogs then lost two this past week on the road, falling at Middle Tennessee (88-51) and Western Kentucky (66-61). La Tech has been much better at home as opposed to on the road this season as they will test the Flames Thursday night. The Bulldogs are currently 8-0 on their home floor while they have not won away from home. Coach Hester and his group will be looking for a big conference win at home against Liberty.
