*******OU-Louisiana Tech Game Thread*******

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209352760

QUICK PREVIEW
Oklahoma (11-1) closes the pre-conference portion of its schedule when it hosts Louisiana Tech (10-3) on Monday at 7 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners, who are on a seven-game winning streak and are 26th in this week’s AP poll, haven’t played since a 64-52 win over Texas A&M Dec. 21 in Houston. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five outings and are coming off an 83-61 road win over ULM on Dec. 22.

ON THE AIR
Monday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM “The Franchise” in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Sirius 111; XM 193) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck calling the action. The game will be televised by Sooner Sports TV with Bob Carpenter, Billy Tubbs and Jessica Coody announcing.

PREVIEWING LOUISIANA TECH
First-year Conference USA member Louisiana Tech enters Monday’s game with a 10-3 record, tied for the league’s second-best mark. The Bulldogs, who return four starters from last year’s 27-7 squad that advanced to the NIT second round, have won won four of their last five contests and are 6-2 away from home (3-1 in true road games). Their only losses came at St. Mary’s (Calif.) by an 83-70 count, at home to UL-Lafayette (89-80) and versus Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City (70-55). LA Tech is averaging 81.8 points and is shooting .474 from the field, .327 from 3-point range (6.7 makes a game) and .662 from the free throw line. It is outrebounding opponents by 3.7 per contest and is holding them to .397 field goal and .312 3-point (5.2 makes an outing) percentages.

The Bulldogs are led by a trio of players averaging double figures in scoring. Junior guard Raheem Appleby averages a team-high 16.1 points a game on .452 field goal and .315 (17-for-54) 3-point shooting. The 6-4, 160-pounder, who has scored more than 20 points five times this year, also averages 2.4 assists. Sophomore guard Alex Hamilton averages 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting .535 from the field. He is coming off a 17-point, nine-rebound, five-assist game at ULM. Senior forward Chris Anderson contributes 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds a contest.

Michael White is in his third year as a collegiate head coach, all at Louisiana Tech. The 1999 Ole Miss grad is 55-26 (.679).

 

[garyeb2]

Re: *******OU-Louisiana Tech Pregame Notes*******

OU will have to play well to win. And even if we do, it could still be a tight fit.
We are a modest 6 point favorite.

 

[AltSooner33]

Re: *******OU-Louisiana Tech Game Thread/Pregame Notes*******

Hope we play well tonight and go into conference season on a good note. Probably going to be a tough game, but if we get the win, it should be a pretty good win to have at the end of the year. I'm making the trip with 4 others, hope we have a decent crowd there. Don't expect it though, especially being Christmas break

 

[garyeb2]

Re: *******OU-Louisiana Tech Game Thread/Pregame Notes*******

Hope we play well tonight and go into conference season on a good note. Probably going to be a tough game, but if we get the win, it should be a pretty good win to have at the end of the year. I'm making the trip with 4 others, hope we have a decent crowd there. Don't expect it though, especially being Christmas break

Tonight is also one of my probably couple of times to make a game. I expect a very light crowd. At least there will be a couple fewer empty seats the team will have to look at.

 

[ChongoChingi]

Re: *******OU-Louisiana Tech Game Thread/Pregame Notes*******

This is a big game. Sooners need to shake the Christmas Break off and get started early. Don't let LT get started early and get confidence. Hopefully the Sooners can roll and finish off a great pre-conference schedule and gear up for conference play. Boomer Sooner!

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: *******OU-Louisiana Tech Game Thread/Pregame Notes*******

Tonight is also one of my probably couple of times to make a game. I expect a very light crowd. At least there will be a couple fewer empty seats the team will have to look at.

I would have thought you went to all of the games. You might be the only fan in the world that attends more practices than games.

 

[OUHoops]

OU up 8-2 at the under 16 timeout.

 

[BigTime]

Cousins starting well

 

[WTSooner]

Bennett's hands just kill me. He needs to spend the entire offseason catching tennis balls.

 

[BigTime]

Booker's stroke is a thing of beauty!

 

[coolm]

I really like how smooth they're playing on offense. They take good shots at good times and they give the ball up well for one another. Coach has done a good job.

 

[OUHoops]

OU up 21-10 with 11:31 to go. Booker with six off the bench.

 

[BigTime]

"The book of Isaiah"

- Bob Carpenter

What. A. Pass!

 

[ChongoChingi]

Highlight reel play... Isaiah draws and dishes to Spangler for the jam.

 

[ChongoChingi]

I thought LT was a three point team? They are trying to play OU's game.

 

[ChongoChingi]

Mankin is getting some playing time in the first half. Announcers saying Hornbeak is close to coming back. Coach said maybe against Texas some.

 

[OUHoops]

Per Bob Carpenter. Kruger says Hornbeak could return "for a few minutes" against Texas.

 

[JBaker]

The zone works a lot better against an A&M team that can't shoot.
La Tech is just raining open threes so far.

 

[BigTime]

Mankin is bankin - again!

And takes a charge.

Odd line-up for Sooners:

Woodard
Booker
Mankin
Neal
Spangs

 

[Laxtothemax12]

It is a little painful watching the other team make wide open 3's every game (except A&M). Also probably one of Woodard's worst halves of basketball, but Booker and Mankin giving us a nice lift and Isaiah looking like he could be a guy to takeover a game in the near future