Red-Hot Dunkin' Dogs Face Cinderella Bears in CUSA Semifinals

Louisiana Tech and Missouri State clash in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals on Friday morning.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:45am

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Louisiana Tech, the No. 4 seed, will take on Missouri State, the No. 9 seed, in the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament on Friday morning. The Bulldogs won both regular-season meetings against the Bears, but Missouri State has emerged as a Cinderella story in the tournament so far with impressive wins over FIU and Liberty.

Why it matters

This semifinal matchup features a clash between a red-hot Louisiana Tech squad and a surging Missouri State team that has defied expectations in the tournament. The winner will advance to the Conference USA championship game, with a chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Louisiana Tech earned an 80-69 victory over Middle Tennessee in the quarterfinals, led by a standout performance from sophomore AJ Bates, who finished with 29 points, six assists, and six steals. Avery Thomas II added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs. Missouri State, on the other hand, has picked up impressive wins over FIU and Liberty in its first two tournament games. Michael Osei-Bonsu led the way in the upset victory over Liberty, scoring a game-high 31 points while adding eight rebounds. Kobi Williams has also been a key contributor for the Bears, averaging 17 points and shooting 46 percent from three-point range.

  • The semifinal game will take place on March 13, 2026 at 11:30 A.M.
  • The game will be played at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The players

Talvin Hester

The head coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, in his fourth season with a record of 76-53.

Cuonzo Martin

The head coach of the Missouri State Bears, in his fifth season with a record of 86-81.

AJ Bates

The sophomore guard for Louisiana Tech who led the Bulldogs with 29 points, six assists, and six steals in the quarterfinal win.

Avery Thomas II

The forward for Louisiana Tech who added 15 points and nine rebounds in the quarterfinal victory.

Michael Osei-Bonsu

The player who led Missouri State with 31 points and eight rebounds in the upset win over Liberty.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a Missouri State team that has really found its stride in the tournament. They've proven they can beat anyone, so we'll need to bring our A-game to advance.”

— Talvin Hester, Head Coach, Louisiana Tech

“Our guys have really stepped up and played with a lot of heart and determination in these tournament games. We're not done yet, and we're looking forward to the challenge of facing Louisiana Tech.”

— Cuonzo Martin, Head Coach, Missouri State

What’s next

The winner of the Louisiana Tech-Missouri State semifinal will advance to the Conference USA championship game on Saturday, March 14th, with a chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This semifinal matchup between the red-hot Bulldogs and the Cinderella Bears promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle, with the winner earning a spot in the Conference USA title game and a chance to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.