Louisiana Tech will visit UAB tonight. The Bulldogs are 11-9 at the halfway point on the season and both teams are 4-5 in a four-way tie for fifth in the Conference USA. LA Tech lost to UAB earlier this month in Ruston 81-74, giving up 21 rebounds in the meeting. Coach Talvin Hester says they can do better…

Cut 19

Tip-off is at 8 p.m.

ULM has named John Hartwell as the new Director of Athletics. Hartwell served as A-D at Utah State and Troy University, and the hiring shows the rest of the Sun-Belt ULM is serious about competing. The hiring is subject to approval by the University Of Louisiana System Board of Directors at its next meeting.

Around the state in college hoops tonight:

ULM will visit Marshall

ULL hosts Troy

Nicholls visits Texas A&M Corpus-Christi

UNO and Southeastern face off at 7:30

And Northwestern State hosts Houston Christian

The Carolina Panthers announced they will be hiring former Colts Head Coach Frank Reich to fill their head coaching vacancy. Carolina had been one of the teams to interview former Saints coach Sean Payton, but ultimately the decision came down to Reich and interim head coach Steve Wilks. Reich, who was fired from the Colts in November of last year, was the starting quarterback for the first game in Panthers history and is now the franchise’s first ever offensive-minded head coach.

Brandon Ingram shook off some rust in the Pelican’s 111-102 loss to the Timberwolves last night. New Orleans led for much of the first half but were outscored by 18 points in the third. Ingram, who hasn’t played since November, went 4 of 18 from the floor on his way to a 13-point performance. Coach Willie Green said the poor performance is to be expected as B-I gets back into game shape and isn’t worried going forward. The Pels have now lost 11 of their last 14 games, and frustrations boiled over for Coach Green who was ejected for the first time in his coaching career with two technical fouls.