MONROE, La. -- ULM earned its
first victory of the season the hard way in a 68-61 overtime-thriller over
Southeastern Louisiana on Monday evening inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The
victory snapped a 20-game home losing streak for the Warhawks, which dated back
to Jan. 4, 2011.
The Warhawks turned up the intensity on defense in the overtime period
as Southeastern Louisiana managed just two points in the final five minutes.
ULM scored the final seven points of the game - all from the free-throw line -
to earn the victory.
Junior guard R.J. McCray led the Warhawks with a career-high 17 points,
while junior forward Jayon James finished just shy of a triple-double with 10
points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-best seven assists in 41 minutes.
Junior guard Marcelis Hansberry added 16
points off the bench, while sophomore guard Trent Mackey scored all 14 of his
points in the second half for ULM.
ULM looked to be in control when McCray drained a jumper to give the
Warhawks a 59-55 lead with 48 seconds remaining in regulation. However, Southeastern's Roosevelt Johnson
scored on a dunk with 36 seconds left and Hansberry had his one-and-one at the
free-throw line rim out giving the Lions a chance to tie the game or take the
lead. Brandon Fortenberry missed on a well-contested jump shot on the ensuing possession,
but Johnson had his tip-in drop through with 0.7 remaining to send the game
into overtime.
ULM shot 54.2 percent in the second half -- its highest shooting half of
the season -- to charge back from a nine-point halftime deficit.
The Warhawks used a 15-2 run midway through the second half to overcome
an eight-point deficit and take a 49-44 lead. James had eight points and a pair
of assists during the run and capped it with a jumper in the paint with 6:31 to
play.
Southeastern responded with seven straight points to re-gain the lead
at 51-49 with 4:13 remaining and the lead changed hands three times over the
next three minutes before ULM broke a 55-all tie with four straight points.
Jeffery Ricard had a game-high 24 points to lead Southeastern
Louisiana, while Johnson and Fortenberry finished with 12 points each.
ULM returns home to face Southern University on Thursday at 7 p.m.
inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM and Southern will be meeting for the first time
since the 1985-86 season.
