ULM Warhawks

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

MONROE, La. – ULM head basketball coach Keith Richard doesn't typically post motivational signs in the locker room but he had one ready for Saturday's game.
 
"Find a way to win," the sign directed.
 
"My only thing was, find a way to win," Richard said. "I don't care if it's ugly, pretty, one point or 20 points. Just find a way to win. We need this one. The team got it and we're happy."
  
The surging Warhawks topped Texas State, 79-71, Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum and claimed their fourth-straight win.
 
"In a lot of ways, that was maybe the biggest win of the year, and let me tell you why," Richard said. "This game was set up for us to not come out right and lose. Texas State is well coached and tough. We knew it was going to be hard-fought. You worry about your team and how they handle success."
 
The answer so far, is pretty well.
 
Winners of six games in their last seven outings, the Warhawks improved to 13-12 overall and evened their Sun Belt record at 7-7.
    
"We knew Texas State was going to come out and play hard," ULM guard Michael Ertel said. "We couldn't get caught up in what everybody was saying. Coach isn't going to let us get satisfied."
 
Leading the charge was Travis Munnings, who scored 26 points, made five 3-pointers and had five rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes.
 
"He had great energy all game," Richard said.  "His energy level was outstanding. In the first half, he was a little bit too excited and took some questionable shots. We calmed him down at the half about his shot selection and he got a lot better shots in the second half."
 
The Warhawks shot 54.5 percent as a team and enjoyed balanced scoring. Ertel added 19 points and five assists, Marvin Jean-Pierre scored 14 with four assists and Jordon Harris scored 12 points with three 3-pointers. ULM made 11-of-25 3-pointers.
 
"It's easy to guard a one-man show," Munnings said. "Guarding five people on the floor is harder. You have to pay attention to each and every body."
 
Munnings tallied 15 first-half points, and ULM finished on a 14-2 run over the final 4:07 to lead 37-31 at the break. Texas State shot 50 percent in the half and led by as many as eight but couldn't slow the Warhawks once they seized momentum.
 
"We got some defensive stops and our activity was really good in the last four to eight minutes of the half," Richard said. "It allowed us to get some buckets in transition, which we needed. We closed half very well and that was a big part of this thing."
 
Beyond the box score, Richard noted the defensive effort by Sam Alabakis in his 26 minutes.
 
"He did an outstanding job on the defensive end," Richard said. "They had some big old boys in there at the center position. With Sam's size, we decided to go one-on-one in the post and let Sam go at the guy solo. We got a lot of out of that. Sam also got five defensive rebounds."
   
Immanuel King scored 22 points to lead Texas State (14-14, 7-8).
 
Loose balls: The Warhawks return to action Thursday night at South Alabama. Tipoff is 7 p.m. The two-game road trip includes a stop at Troy on Feb. 24. … One of ULM's hottest shooters lately, Sam McDaniel was scoreless in the first half and finished with eight points. …  ULM improved to 11-3 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum this season. The Warhawks finish the regular season at home vs. Little Rock (March 1) and Arkansas State (March 3).