MONROE, La. - ULM rallied back from a 15-point deficit in the second
half to force overtime, but Western Kentucky survived with a 76-71 victory in
the Sun Belt opener for both teams Thursday inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Hilltoppers (5-9, 1-0 SBC) scored the first four points of the
overtime period and sealed the victory by going 8 of 13 from the free-throw
line in the extra session. Western Kentucky finished the game 28 of 39 from the
charity stripe, its most makes this season.
It marked the first overtime game for the Warhawks since Dec. 31, 2008
when they lost at UALR 95-87.
Senior guard Hugh Mingo gave the Warhawks a chance with a game-tying
3-pointer to make the score 64-all with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation. ULM
scored the final six points of the half after trailing 64-58 with 46 seconds
remaining.
Mingo scored a season-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the
field. He also contributed four rebounds, two assists and two steals in a
career-high 41 minutes. Sophomore center Steven McClellan had 15 points, eight
rebounds and a block, while senior guard Fred Brown chipped in 13 points and a
team-high five assists for the Warhawks.
George Fant finished with 17 points while going 9 of 12 from the
free-throw line to lead the scoring effort for the Hilltoppers. Derrick Gordon
had 13 points, and Kevin Kaspar contributed 11 points - all in the second half
and overtime - for Western Kentucky.
Western Kentucky led by as many as 15 points early in the second half
before ULM rallied back. The Warhawks scored 11 straight points to pull within
one at 53-52 with 7:26 remaining. After five straight points from Western
Kentucky, ULM used a 6-0 run to tie the score at 58 at the 4:53 mark.
ULM (1-13, 0-1 SBC) made five of its first nine shots of the game to
build an 11-3 advantage at the 15:50 mark of the first half. The Warhawks
extended their lead to as large as 18-8 on a pair of free throws from McClellan
at the 13:28 mark.
The Hilltoppers responded by scoring nine straight points and they took
their first lead of the game at 23-22 with 5:45 remaining in the first half.
George Fant scored on a tip-in to cap the run for Western Kentucky.
Western Kentucky led 34-29 at halftime.
The Warhawks host Arkansas State Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Fant-Ewing
Coliseum.
