Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech Collide in CUSA Semifinal

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — A spot in the Conference USA championship game will be on the line Thursday when seed Middle Tennessee meets seed Louisiana Tech in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball semifinal.

The Blue Raiders (17-14) and Bulldogs (18-13) will tip off at approximately 9 p.m. EDT at Propst Arena, following the first semifinal. Middle Tennessee is a 2-point favorite, with an over/under of 132 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The teams split their regular-season series, each winning on the other’s home floor. Louisiana Tech eked out a 59-58 win in Ruston on Jan. 14, avenging a lopsided 88-51 loss in Murfreesboro on Jan. 2.

Middle Tennessee enters on a four-game winning streak, including a 75-63 victory at Missouri State on March 7. Forward Torey Alston has been pivotal, averaging 15.6 points over his last seven games. He scored 17 points in the win at Missouri State and posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double against Delaware on Feb. 21.

Louisiana Tech counters with its own momentum, having won three of its last four, capped by an emphatic 81-38 rout at Delaware. Guard Avery Thomas erupted for 20 points in just 21 minutes in that victory. His season has been marked by high-volume performances, including a 19-point effort in a double-overtime win at Missouri State on Feb. 12.

The Bulldogs’ defense, which held Delaware to a season-low 38 points, will be tested by a Middle Tennessee offense that has averaged 76.8 points during its current streak. The Blue Raiders’ defense, however, has been inconsistent, allowing 78 points or more in three of their last eight games.

The winner will advance to Saturday’s conference championship game to face either Sam Houston or Liberty, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake.