MIAMI -
ULM picked up its first conference victory of the season with a 54-50 victory
at FIU Saturday evening inside U.S. Century Bank Arena. The Warhawks (2-15, 1-3
SBC) led by as many as 13 points in the second half, but had to hang on as the
Panthers rallied to within one in the final minute.
Senior
guard Fred Brown hit 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to clinch the victory
for the Warhawks. Brown led ULM with 16 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the
field. Brown also contributed three rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes of
action.
With
ULM clinging to a 51-50 lead with 9.8 seconds remaining, Brown sank 1 of 2 from
the charity stripe. FIU's Deric Hill threw the ensuing inbounds pass right to
ULM's Hugh Mingo who stole the ball and passed it quickly to Brown with 2
seconds remaining on the clock. Brown sealed the victory for the Warhawks by
hitting both free throw attempts.
Sophomore
Steven McClellan came up a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and
nine rebounds, while Mingo finished a point shy of a double-double with nine
points and a career-high 12 boards. Sophomore Charles Winborne notched 10
points and freshman Trent Mackey contributed nine points and a career-high
seven assists.
The
Warhawks, who shot 34.6 percent from the field, finished with a 40-38 advantage
on the boards.
ULM
went on a 7-0 run midway through the second half -- capped by a 3-pointer from
Winborne -- to take a 43-30 advantage. The Panthers responded with 12-1 run
spanning just over four minutes to close within 44-42 with 5:19 remaining.
Winborne
hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired on ULM's next possession to extend
the lead back to five with 4:41 to play. A layup by Brown gave ULM a 51-44 lead
with 2:46 to play.
The
Panthers (4-11, 1-2 SBC) did not go away though, scoring six straight points --
capped by a dunk from Dominique Ferguson -- to close to within 51-50.
Phil
Taylor led three FIU players in double figures with 19 points, while Ferguson
chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds, and Jeremy Allen added 10 points.
Two
days after scoring just 30 points in a loss at Florida Atlantic, the Warhawks
netted 31 in the first half to take a 10-point halftime advantage against FIU.
ULM shot 40 percent in the first half and knocked in six 3-pointers.
Brown
hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark an 11-0 run that gave the Warhawks a 23-12
advantage with 7:17 remaining before halftime. After FIU closed the gap to five
with six straight points, ULM answered with back-to-back 3s from Mackey to give
the Warhawks a 29-18 lead with just over three minutes to play before the break.
The
Warhawks return home to face UALR Thursday at 7:30 p.m. inside Fant-Ewing
Coliseum.
