GAME NOTES: The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs attempt to stay unbeaten in Conference USA play on Saturday when they welcome the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to the Thomas Assembly Center.

Louisiana Tech won for the fifth straight time and improved to 4-0 in conference action on Thursday, as it got past UAB, 74-71. At 13-4, the Bulldogs own the second best record in C-USA, behind only Old Dominion.

They've also won 21 straight games at home, which is the third longest streak in school history.

As for the Blue Raiders, they've also thrived since the start of conference play, winning three of their four games, including the last three after a hard-fought 62-61 win over Southern Miss on Thursday.

Louisiana Tech beat Middle Tennessee in the lone meeting a season ago and has won eight of the 10 all-time matchups.

The Bulldogs got a career night from sophomore Erik McCree in Thursday's win, as he netted 26 points in the win over UAB. He converted 4-of-6 shots from three-point range and was 9-of-15 from the floor overall, while Alex Hamilton accounted for 20 points, hitting all three of his shots on the perimeter and 6-of-7 from the field, followed by Raheem Appleby with 11 points.

As has been the norm this season Louisiana Tech was at a disadvantage on the glass and watched UAB connect on almost 60-percent of its shots from the field. However, despite shooting just 44 percent themselves, the Bulldogs were able to force the Blazers into 20 turnovers, leading to nine more shot attempts. While the Bulldogs have a -6.5 rebounding margin for the season, they have held opponents to a .428 clip from the field this season.

Appleby can be a devastating offensive threat when all the pieces fall into place, averaging 17.5 ppg as he shoots 40.9 percent from behind the 3-point line. He has converted more than twice as many triples as his closest teammates, and as a unit Louisiana Tech is knocking down about eight shots per contest from distance. Hamilton (15.5 ppg) and McCree (12.1 ppg) have also shown the ability to lead, thanks to the efforts of Kenneth Smith (4.7 ppg) who is one of the nation's leaders with 124 assists.

Reggie Upshaw scored 18 points to pace Middle Tennessee against the Golden Eagles, while Giddy Potts added 10 points and Jaqawn Raymond and Jacquez Rozier both contributed nine points in the win. Upshaw has led a solid bench unit for the Raiders that has averaged 26.9 ppg this season, accounting for 44.5 percent of the team's points.

Middle Tennessee's defense, which has yet to allow an opponent to go over 70 points, will have its hands full on Saturday, against a Louisiana Tech team that has gone over 70 points 12 times this season and averages 75.6 ppg.

Middle Tennessee has made great strides this season, but it will be going up against a Louisiana Tech program that very well may be the best in the conference in its home building.