2025–26 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team

2025–26 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
2025–26 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
Conference	Conference USA
Record	20–14 (11–9 C-USA)
Head coach	Talvin Hester (4th season);
Assistant coaches	Winston Hines; Darshawn McClellan; Tyson Batiste; Tim McGraw; Kavin Gilder-Tilbury;
Home arena	Thomas Assembly Center

2025–26 Conference USA men's basketball standings
	Conf.				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Liberty	17	–	3	.850	26	–	7	.788
Sam Houston	13	–	7	.650	22	–	12	.647
Western Kentucky	11	–	9	.550	18	–	14	.563
Louisiana Tech	11	–	9	.550	20	–	14	.588
Middle Tennessee	11	–	9	.550	17	–	15	.531
Kennesaw State †	10	–	10	.500	21	–	14	.600
Jacksonville State	10	–	10	.500	15	–	17	.469
FIU	8	–	12	.400	15	–	17	.469
Missouri State	8	–	12	.400	16	–	18	.471
New Mexico State	8	–	12	.400	16	–	16	.500
UTEP	7	–	13	.350	11	–	20	.355
Delaware	6	–	14	.300	10	–	21	.323

† 2026 CUSA tournament winner As of March 19, 2026

The 2025–26 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by fourth-year head coach Talvin Hester, played their home games at Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, Louisiana as members of Conference USA.

Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the 2024–25 season 20–12, 9–9 in C-USA play, to finish in sixth place.^[1] They were defeated by Middle Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament.^[2]

Preseason

On October 9, 2025, Conference USA released their preseason poll. Louisiana Tech was picked to finish fifth in the conference.^[3]

Preseason rankings

C-USA Preseason Poll
Place	Team	Votes
1	Liberty	143 (11)
2	Kennesaw State	126 (1)
3	New Mexico State	113
4	Middle Tennessee	103
5	Louisiana Tech	82
6	Western Kentucky	79
7	Jacksonville State	67
8	UTEP	66
9	Sam Houston	56
10	FIU	36
11	Delaware	35
12	Missouri State	30
(#) first-place votes

Source:^[3]

Preseason All C-USA Team

Preseason All C-USA Team
Player	Year	Position
Kaden Cooper	Junior	Guard

Source:^[3]

Roster

2025–26 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men's basketball team

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Name	Height	Weight	Year	Previous school	Hometown
G	0	DJ Dudley	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Jr	Hutchinson Community College	Inglewood, California
F	2	Will Jeffress	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	GS	Pittsburgh	Erie, Pennsylvania
G	3	AJ Bates	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	So	Seven Lakes High School	Houston, Texas
G	4	Jaylen Fenner	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Fr	Atascocita High School	Humble, Texas
F	5	Avery Thomas II	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	So	Jones College	Jackson, Mississippi
G	6	Keegan Rowell	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	RS So	McLennan Community College	Lorena, Texas
F	7	Sir Issac Herron	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	GS	Oral Roberts	Houston, Texas
G	8	Scooter Williams	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	GS	East Texas A&M	Clarksville, Tennessee
F	10	Kylan Howze	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Jr	Jones College	Gulfport, Mississippi
G	11	Kaden Cooper	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Jr	Oklahoma	Ada, Oklahoma
F	14	Will Allen	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	RS Sr	Bonnabel High School	New Orleans, Louisiana
C	21	Melian Martinez	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	RS Jr	New Mexico Junior College	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
G	23	Lachlan Thompson (W)	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	RS So	Choudrant High School	Choudrant, Louisiana
F	27	A'Meir Williams	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Fr	Kennedale High School	Kennedale, Texas

Head coach

Talvin Hester (Texas Wesleyan)

Assistant coach(es)

Winston Hines (Stillman)
Darshawn McClellan (Vanderbilt)
Tyson Batiste (Central Connecticut State)
Tim McGraw (John Brown)
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury (Texas State)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 6, 2025

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2025* 9:00 pm, MWN		at Nevada	L 50–77	0–1	9 – Tied	5 – Cooper	3 – Bates	Lawlor Events Center (7,144) Reno, NV
November 9, 2025* 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Lyon	W 93–35	1–1	18 – Thomas II	9 – Tied	7 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,046) Ruston, LA
November 15, 2025* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		Jackson State	W 68–51	2–1	15 – Tied	9 – Tied	8 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,106) Ruston, LA
November 19, 2025* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		at Indiana State	L 51−60	2−2	23 – Williams	11 – Williams	1 – Tied	Hulman Center (4,442) Terre Haute, IN
November 26, 2025* 6:30 pm, ESPN+		Indiana State Louisiana Tech MTE	W 75−73	3−2	17 – Dudley	10 – Cooper	3 – Tied	Thomas Assembly Center (2,022) Ruston, LA
November 29, 2025* 12:00 pm, ESPN+		Alcorn State Louisiana Tech MTE	W 83–58	4–2	26 – Bates	9 – Cooper	6 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,938) Ruston, LA
December 3, 2025* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		at Georgia Southern	L 69–77	4–3	26 – Dudley	5 – Jeffress	9 – Bates	Hill Convocation Center (1,921) Statesboro, GA
December 7, 2025* 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Ecclesia	W 89–37	5–3	20 – Cooper	9 – Jeffress	10 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,967) Ruston, LA
December 13, 2025* 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Louisiana	W 65–44	6–3	23 – Bates	20 – Cooper	8 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,320) Ruston, LA
December 17, 2025* 6:30 pm, ESPN+		at Tulane	L 53–61	6–4	17 – Dudley	7 – Cooper	4 – Bates	Devlin Fieldhouse (1,030) New Orleans, LA
December 22, 2025* 1:00 pm, ESPN+		Dallas Christian	W 90–37	7–4	24 – Cooper	15 – Thomas II	6 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,815) Ruston, LA
Conference USA regular season
December 29, 2025 6:30 pm, ESPN+		UTEP	W 75–63	8–4 (1–0)	18 – Dudley	8 – Cooper	10 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,910) Ruston, LA
January 2, 2026 6:30 pm, ESPN+		at Middle Tennessee	L 51–88	8–5 (1–1)	12 – Williams	6 – Thomas II	4 – Bates	Murphy Center (3,127) Murfreesboro, TN
January 4, 2026 2:00 pm, ESPN+		at Western Kentucky	L 61–66	8–6 (1–2)	13 – Bates	13 – Cooper	3 – Tied	E. A. Diddle Arena (3,523) Bowling Green, KY
January 8, 2026 6:00 pm, CBSSN		Liberty	L 56–72	8–7 (1–3)	17 – Dudley	10 – Thomas II	3 – Tied	Thomas Assembly Center (2,373) Ruston, LA
January 10, 2026 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Delaware	W 70–68 ^OT	9–7 (2–3)	17 – Dudley	8 – Tied	4 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,166) Ruston, LA
January 14, 2026 6:30 pm, ESPN+		Middle Tennessee	W 59–58	10–7 (3–3)	19 – Dudley	15 – Thomas II	5 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,082) Ruston, LA
January 17, 2026 4:00 pm, ESPN+		at Jacksonville State	L 60–64	10–8 (3–4)	25 – Dudley	6 – Tied	2 – Dudley	Pete Mathews Coliseum (1,137) Jacksonville, AL
January 24, 2026 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Kennesaw State	W 82–76	11–8 (4–4)	20 – Dudley	6 – Tied	8 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,852) Ruston, LA
January 28, 2026 8:00 pm, ESPN+		at UTEP	W 69–59	12–8 (5–4)	20 – Dudley	11 – Thomas II	7 – Bates	Don Haskins Center (3,335) El Paso, TX
January 31, 2026 9:00 pm, ESPN2		at Sam Houston	L 67–83	12–9 (5–5)	21 – Dudley	8 – Thomas II	6 – Bates	Bernard Johnson Coliseum (1,510) Huntsville, TX
February 4, 2026 6:30 pm, ESPN+		New Mexico State	L 63–72	12–10 (5–6)	22 – Williams	10 – Fenner	5 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,127) Ruston, LA
February 7, 2026 2:00 pm, ESPN+		Sam Houston	W 87–78	13–10 (6–6)	21 – Bates	11 – Thomas II	6 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,670) Ruston, LA
February 12, 2026 7:30 pm, CBSSN		at Missouri State	W 79–78 ^2OT	14–10 (7–6)	19 – Thomas II	13 – Cooper	6 – Bates	Great Southern Bank Arena (2,079) Springfield, MO
February 14, 2026 1:00 pm, ESPN+		at FIU	L 64–77	14–11 (7–7)	14 – Bates	4 – Williams	4 – Tied	Ocean Bank Convocation Center Miami, FL
February 18, 2026 6:30 pm, ESPN+		Jacksonville State	W 77–71	15–11 (8–7)	22 – Dudley	10 – Tied	15 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (1,959) Ruston, LA
February 21, 2026 4:00 pm, ESPN+		at Kennesaw State	L 55–58	15–12 (8–8)	18 – Cooper	13 – Cooper	5 – Bates	VyStar Arena (1,827) Kennesaw, GA
February 26, 2026 6:30 pm, ESPN+		Missouri State	W 72–70	16–12 (9–8)	27 – Dudley	8 – Allen	5 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,051) Ruston, LA
February 28, 2026 2:00 pm, ESPN+		FIU	L 76−84	16−13 (9−9)	25 – Fenner	7 – Tied	7 – Bates	Thomas Assembly Center (2,265) Ruston, LA
March 5, 2026 6:00 pm, ESPN+		at Liberty	W 76−71	17−13 (10−9)	34 – Bates	8 – Fenner	4 – Bates	Liberty Arena (3,134) Lynchburg, VA
March 7, 2026 11:00 am, ESPN+		at Delaware	W 81−38	18−13 (11−9)	20 – Thomas II	7 – Cooper	9 – Bates	Bob Carpenter Center (2,369) Newark, DE
Conference USA tournament
March 12, 2026 5:30 pm, ESPN+	(4)	vs. (5) Middle Tennessee Quarterfinal	W 80–69	19–13	29 – Bates	9 – Thomas II	6 – Bates	Propst Arena (3,029) Huntsville, AL
March 13, 2026 11:30 am, CBSSN	(4)	vs. (9) Missouri State Semifinal	W 69–66	20–13	27 – Bates	12 – Thomas II	6 – Bates	Propst Arena (2,187) Huntsville, AL
March 14, 2026 7:30 pm, CBSSN	(4)	vs. (6) Kennesaw State Championship	L 60–71	20–14	10 – Tied	10 – Tied	8 – Bates	Propst Arena (3,235) Huntsville, AL
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central.

Sources:^[4]^[5]

References

^ "2024-25 Men's Basketball Standings". Conference USA. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
^ "Middle Tennesse edges Louisiana Tech 77-75 in 2OT in Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2025-26 CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team and Poll Announced". Conference USA. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
^ "2025-26 Men's Basketball Schedule". LA Tech Athletics. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
^ "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 2025-26 Regular Season NCAAM Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

[1] "2024-25 Men's Basketball Standings". Conference USA. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

[2] "Middle Tennesse edges Louisiana Tech 77-75 in 2OT in Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

[poll-3] "2025-26 CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team and Poll Announced". Conference USA. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

[4] "2025-26 Men's Basketball Schedule". LA Tech Athletics. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

[5] "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 2025-26 Regular Season NCAAM Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

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[3]

[4]

[5]

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
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