OXFORD, Miss - ULM put forth a valiant second-half effort, but it was
not enough as Ole Miss powered to a 60-38 victory Friday night in the season
opener for both squads. The Warhawks shot just 28.6 percent for the game and
struggled at the free-throw line, going 7-of-18.
Senior guard Fred Brown led the Warhawks with seven points on 2-of-12
shooting. It was the first time ULM failed to have a player score in double
figures since 2006 against Iowa State. Freshman Trent Mackey came off the bench
to notch five points and five rebounds in his first collegiate game.
ULM put on a spectacular defense display in the second half as Ole Miss
shot just 23.3 percent in the half. The Warhawks cut the lead to as low as 16
in the second half, but that is as close as they would get.
After the two teams traded baskets for the first 10 minute of the second
half, the Warhawks embarked on a 6-0 run - fueled by a pair of Fabio Ribeiro
layups - to get within 49-33 with 5:14 remaining. ULM held Ole Miss scoreless for over three
minutes during that stretch.
A Terrance Henry free throw and a layup from Murphy Holloway catapulted
the Rebels back in front 52-33 with 4:21 left.
Henry, a Monroe, La. native, led three Rebels in double figures with 15
points. Nick Williams added 13 points and Dundrecous Nelson chipped in 12
points for the Rebels. Holloway pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds.
The Warhawks shot just 16.7 percent in the first half as Ole Miss
stormed out to a 33-11 advantage at halftime. ULM converted 4 of 24 from the
field and 1 of 7 from 3-point range. The Rebels countered by shooting 44.4
percent and outgaining ULM 26-12 on the boards.
Ole Miss broke the game open with a 24-6 run over the final 13:18 of
the first half. Leading 18-8, Williams scored nine straight points for the
Rebels, capped a by an old-fashioned three-point play that gave Ole Miss a
24-10 advantage with 7:00 remaining.
The Rebels continued the run spearheaded by an aggressive defense which
blocked six shots and forced nine ULM turnovers in the half. The Warhawks
managed just one point - a Christian Bibi Ndongo free throw - in the last 7:26
of the half.
ULM faces off against Indiana State Monday at 7 p.m. in its home opener
inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
