MONROE, La. - North Texas got out to an early lead and held on for a
68-55 victory over ULM Saturday in Sun Belt action inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Mean Green (11-8, 4-2 SBC) led by as many as 23 points in the
second half before ULM made a late run and cut the margin to as close as 66-55
with 3:07 remaining. Roger Franklin answered for North Texas with a layup in
transition and the Mean Green held the Warhawks scoreless over the final three
minutes to hang on for the victory.
Sophomore guard Charles Winborne led ULM with 15 points on 5-of-8
shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Marcelis Hansberry added eight points
and sophomore center Steven McClellan chipped in seven points and a career-high
13 rebounds for the Warhawks.
Brandon Walton led all scorers with 18 points, including five
3-pointer, to lead the Mean Green. Franklin tallied 16 points and 15 rebounds
and Tony Mitchell chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds.
ULM (2-17, 1-5 SBC) trailed 61-49 with 5:09 remaining when Walton hit a
deep 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to extend the Mean Green lead back to
15.
Winborne knocked in a pair of free throws for the Warhawks, then hit a
jumper in the lane to cut the North Texas advantage to 66-53 with 3:56 left.
Sophomore guard R.J. McCray stole the ball on the ensuing North Texas possession
and finished with a layup to get the Warhawks within 11.
ULM finished with a season-high 44 rebounds while holding North Texas
to 35.5 percent shooting from the field. The Warhawks limited the Mean Green to
just 27.6 percent in the second half.
The Warhawks shot 22.2 percent in the first half and trailed the Mean
Green 37-18 at the break.
ULM wraps up a three-game home stand Thursday against Denver. The game
is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
