- Matchup: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs Missouri State Bears
- Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Venue: Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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This Thursday, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (13-10) head to Great Southern Bank Arena, aiming to take on the Missouri State Bears (13-10).
Louisiana Tech comes off a victory against Sam Houston State, clinching a win with a score of 87-78. In terms of fouls, the Bulldogs recorded 15 personal fouls compared to Sam Houston State’s 22. They also excelled from beyond the arc, making 13 of 27 three-point attempts. Sam Houston State hit 71.4% of their free throws, converting 15 out of 21 shots. However, they managed only 24 rebounds (5 offensive and 19 defensive) without a single block. The opposition tallied 14 assists and achieved 9 steals in the match. Defensively, Louisiana Tech allowed their opponents a shooting percentage of 43.9% (25 of 57). The Bulldogs amassed 17 assists while forcing 15 turnovers and earning 10 steals. They collected a total of 43 rebounds, with 16 being offensive. From the free-throw line, Louisiana Tech successfully converted 26 of their 35 attempts, achieving a percentage of 74.3%. The game concluded with the Bulldogs shooting 46.2% from the field (30 of 65), though they struggled with just 1 out of 17 shooting from three-point range.
AJ Bates emerged as a standout performer, contributing 21 points while shooting 5 of 9. He logged 28 minutes on the court but did not secure any rebounds. Bates achieved a shooting efficiency of 55.6% while also providing 6 assists.
Entering this game with a record of 13-10, Louisiana Tech averages 69.0 points per game (ranking 325th nationally) while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their three-point shooting sits at 29.2%, hitting 127 out of 435 attempts, and they convert 65.0% from the free-throw line. As a unit, the Bulldogs gather 39.7 rebounds per game and have tallied 277 assists, positioning them 335th in Division 1 in assist numbers. They commit an average of 11.8 turnovers and 16.0 personal fouls per game.
Defensively, the Bulldogs force 11.9 turnovers per game and draw 16.6 fouls while holding opponents to a 3-point shooting percentage of 31.7%. They rank 5th in Division 1 for opponent points per game, allowing 63.3. Louisiana Tech’s defense permits a field goal percentage of 39.0% (489 of 1,253) and averages 32.9 rebounds each game. They are currently 40th in college basketball for the least assists allowed, having surrendered 270 this season.
In their previous game, the Missouri State Bears fell 79-76 to Liberty. Liberty controlled the boards, snatching 25 rebounds with 3 offensive rebounds. The Bears hit 35.0% of their three-point attempts, sinking 7 of 20, and made 18 of 28 free throws for a percentage of 64.3%. Conversely, Liberty shot an impressive 55.1%, converting 27 of 49 field goals. Missouri State finished the game with a field goal percentage of 48.2%, making 27 out of 56 attempts, and 8 of 17 (47.1%) from beyond the arc. They struggled at the line, hitting 53.8% of their free throws. Liberty was penalized with 17 personal fouls, leading Missouri State to the charity stripe for 26 free throw attempts. The Bears tallied 10 turnovers while recording 5 steals in the match, securing 21 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive boards for a total of 31 rebounds.
Keith Palek III performed exceptionally for the Bears, scoring 25 points in 29 minutes on the court, while also dishing out 2 assists. He shot 52.9%, converting 9 of 17 attempts, and pulled down 9 rebounds.
This season, Missouri State owns a 13-10 record. Offensively, the Bears are shooting 45.3% from the field, placing them 182nd in college basketball. They have scored a total of 1,733 points (75.3 per game) and average 35.1 rebounds per game. Their assist-average stands at 14.1 (ranking 174th in college basketball), with a turnover rate of 11.6 per game. The Bears also commit 17.7 fouls each game and convert 67.1% of their free throws.
Defensively, Missouri State allows 33.5% on three-point shots (156 of 466) while opponents convert 70.8% of their free throws against them. The Bears permit 13.1 assists and 33.7 rebounds per game, ranking them 158th and 137th, respectively. Their defense ranks 148th in points allowed with an average of 72.6 points. They create 12.0 turnovers per game and allow opponents to shoot 44.7% from the floor, ranking them 228th in college basketball.
Who will be victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Missouri State
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