Louisiana Tech Edges Missouri State in Close Contest
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Thomas Assembly Center
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 72, Missouri State Bears 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Missouri State Bears vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs?
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs beat Missouri State Bears 72-70 at Thomas Assembly Center on February 26, 2026.
Who was favored in Missouri State Bears vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs?
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Missouri State Bears 72-70 at the Thomas Assembly Center. This game was particularly noteworthy as it marked the second meeting between the two teams in the 2026 season, with Louisiana Tech having previously won their first encounter 79-78 on February 13, 2026.
Entering this game, Louisiana Tech held a home record of 16-12, while Missouri State had a record of 13-15 overall. The Bulldogs had been experiencing a mixed bag of results lately, with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games. However, they were coming off a loss to Kennesaw State, which snapped a brief two-game winning streak prior to that defeat. Louisiana Tech averaged 70.3 points scored per game and allowed 71.6 points in that stretch. Their home performance was slightly better, boasting a record of 3-1 in their last four home games.
On the other hand, Missouri State was struggling significantly, entering the game on a five-game losing streak, which contributed to their overall record of 3-7 in their last ten games. They averaged 75.3 points scored while allowing 76.4 points during that span. Their away record was less favorable, having won only 2 out of their last 5 games on the road.
The market had Louisiana Tech favored by 2.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 138.5. The odds reflected the Bulldogs' status as the home team, with a moneyline of -135. Missouri State's moneyline was set at +114, indicating they were viewed as the underdogs.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details regarding player availability for either team, but both squads needed to field their best players to secure a win given their recent performances.
The game unfolded with a competitive atmosphere, as both teams exchanged leads throughout. Key moments included a series of scoring plays in the second half, where DJ Dudley made crucial layups to keep Louisiana Tech in the game. The Bulldogs managed to tie the game at 70 before Will Allen's layup in the final moments sealed the victory for Louisiana Tech.
As the game concluded, the Bulldogs' home win probability stood at 1.0, underscoring their strong position as they faced the Bears. The matchup not only highlighted the rivalry between the two teams but also showcased the resilience of Louisiana Tech in overcoming a challenging opponent.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LT -2.5 | 138.5 o -118 / u -102 | Missouri State Bears +114 · Louisiana Tech Bulldogs -135 |
Leaders
- PointsDJ Dudley27Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- AssistsAJ Bates5Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- ReboundsWill Allen8Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- PointsKeith Palek III29Missouri State Bears
- AssistsTrey Williams Jr.5Missouri State Bears
- ReboundsMichael Osei-Bonsu10Missouri State Bears
Recent form
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Last 10: 5-5Streak L170.3 scored · 71.6 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L55-58at Kennesaw State OwlsFeb 21
- W77-71vs Jacksonville State GamecocksFeb 19
- L64-77at Florida International PanthersFeb 14
- W79-78at Missouri State BearsFeb 13
- W87-78vs Sam Houston BearkatsFeb 7
- L63-72vs New Mexico State AggiesFeb 5
- L67-83at Sam Houston BearkatsFeb 1
- W69-59at UTEP MinersJan 29
- W82-76vs Kennesaw State OwlsJan 23
- L60-64at Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 17
Missouri State Bears
Last 10: 3-7Streak L575.3 scored · 76.4 allowed per game2-3 away
- L67-70at Florida International PanthersFeb 21
- L87-91vs Kennesaw State OwlsFeb 19
- L67-76vs Delaware Blue HensFeb 14
- L78-79vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsFeb 13
- L76-79at Liberty FlamesFeb 7
- W74-67vs Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 31
- L71-80vs Sam Houston BearkatsJan 29
- W62-57at UTEP MinersJan 24
- W84-75at New Mexico State AggiesJan 23
- L87-90at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 17
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Missouri State Bears | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-54 | 24-50 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 6-17 | 9-25 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 36 |
| Free throws | 20-24 | 15-24 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 21 |
| Assists | 14 | 10 |
| Steals | 9 | 7 |
| Blocks | 1 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 16 |
| Fouls | 17 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 14 | 14 |
| Time in front | 38 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-40Kobi Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-40Kobi Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-42Kaden Cooper makes layup
- 2nd Half41-43Kaden Cooper makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half43-43Keith Palek III makes 14-foot jumper (Kobi Williams assists)
- 2nd Half43-44AJ Bates makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-45AJ Bates makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-45Michael Osei-Bonsu makes layup (Melakih Cunningham assists)
- 2nd Half48-45Kobi Williams makes 22-foot three point jumper (Keith Palek III assists)
- 2nd Half48-48DJ Dudley makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half50-48Keith Palek III makes layup
- 2nd Half50-49DJ Dudley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-50DJ Dudley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-50Keith Palek III makes layup (Trey Williams Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half52-51Kaden Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-51Trey Williams Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-51Trey Williams Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-51Keith Palek III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51Keith Palek III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Will Allen makes 25-foot three point jumper (AJ Bates assists)
- 2nd Half57-54Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-54Trey Williams Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kobi Williams assists)
- 2nd Half60-57DJ Dudley makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half62-57Keith Palek III makes layup (Kobi Williams assists)
- 2nd Half62-58Scooter Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-59Scooter Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-60Will Allen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-61Will Allen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-61Keith Palek III makes layup
- 2nd Half64-63DJ Dudley makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-63Keith Palek III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-63Keith Palek III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-63Zaxton King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65DJ Dudley makes layup
- 2nd Half67-66DJ Dudley makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half68-66Keith Palek III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-68Scooter Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half68-70DJ Dudley makes layup
- 2nd Half70-70Keith Palek III makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-72Will Allen makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, below favours Missouri State Bears.
Venue
- Thomas Assembly CenterRuston, LA
- Attendance2051
- OfficialsGarrick Shannon, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal, Rob Rorke
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