NEW ORLEANS – A back-and-forth battle just didn't end in favor of the ULM men's basketball program as UT Arlington took a 68-65 decision on Thursday in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championships at Lakefront Arena.
All-Conference Third-Team selection Tylor Ongwae led ULM (10-17, 7-11 SBC) with a game-high 20 points and five rebounds. Junior Marvin Williams registered 14 points and nine rebounds, and senior Jayon James recorded five points, six rebounds and 10 assists.
UTA (15-16, 9-9 SBC) was paced by Reger Dowell's 18 points and Jamel Outler's 16 points. Lonnie McClanahan and Anthony Walker put in 12 points apiece. Dowell was honored on the SBC All-Conference First-Team.
The Warhawks went into the break leading 36-32 and extended the lead to 38-32 early in the second half after a jumper by freshman Nick Coppola. UTA responded with an 8-2 run to tie it, 40-40 with 15:56 remaining.
After UTA went up 52-49, the Warhawks answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper from Ongwae, to go up 56-52 with 7:38 left. The Mavs would hit a pair of three-pointers to level the score 60-60 heading into the final media timeout. UTA continued to spurt and led 65-60 when Ongwae drilled a three-pointer to make it 65-63 with 2:37 to go.
ULM was down 68-65 with 10 seconds left with the ball, but missed a three-pointer in the closing seconds in an attempt to send the game into overtime.
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NOTES
- As the No. 7 seed, the Warhawks finished three spots ahead of where they were predicted in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll
- ULM more-than doubled both its overall and conference win totals from last season. The Warhawks notched four more conference wins despite playing an 18-game schedule, compared to a 20-game slate last season. ULM was 4-23 overall and 3-17 in SBC play last year
- ULM moved to 46-15 all-time against the Mavs and 2-2 on neutral courts
- Junior Tylor Ongwae reached double-figures in 24 of 27 games on the season. It was his ninth 20-plus performance and the 17th game he led the team in scoring
- Junior Marvin Williams etched his ninth double-figure scoring game and tied his career-high with 35 minutes played
- Senior Jayon James notched his third career 10-plus assist game and led the team in that category in 19 games this season. It was the ninth time this season that he posted at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game
- Senior R.J. McCray played in his 100th career game and had five points in 13 minutes
- ULM out-rebounded UTA 39-33
Quoting ULM head coach Keith Richard
Opening Statement
“That was a really hard-fought game by both teams. I'm proud of our team's effort. I thought they played very hard and with some real toughness. I thought we did a better job defending (UT Arlington) tonight than we had in the previous two games that we played them. That was a concern of ours. At the end of the day, we didn't have enough scoring to win that game and it's really a perfect example of our season in a way. We did some good things and had some good moments. We played well at times, looked like a good team and were beating a good team, but they have a rim and a net up there for a reason.
“You have to put the ball through the hole more than we did down the stretch. Scoring 29 points in the second half just wasn't going to be enough. Shooting 29 percent in the second half and eight percent from the three-point line just wasn't enough and not enough scoring down the stretch to go win that game. That's a shame, because I thought our guys really had done many good things that would warrant a win. In that last five minutes though, we really needed a few more buckets when (UTA) was making a run. We needed those buckets to stop it and go win the game. I want to congratulate UTA for moving on.”
On how rewarding it was to play in the tournament
“It's very rewarding. I'm very pleased with these players. I'm very pleased with our progress this year and the improvement. Improvement is the word I've used all year. We more than doubled our overall win total and more than doubled our conference wins. That's a huge step for our program from where it's been. Though, another win would have made it feel so much better. That's why you feel bad for these guys. They certainly played hard enough in this game and at times well enough to win, but the scoring issue has been somewhat of an issue for us all year since Amos Olatayo went out, a double-figure scorer. We lost him for the season. We've had these droughts and it's unfortunate, but it's plagued us. That's the difference in us coming in as a seventh seed or a higher seed. It's something we have to address in recruiting. (UT Arlington) made some plays at the end of the game. (Reger) Dowell is able to go get them a bucket and that's why he's a first-team all-league guy. It's pretty nice to have that type of player on your side when it's late in the game and you need something to happen, that you have one that can go make a play. That's how a lot of games are won and lost. We're not quite there yet. We're close. We're coming. I believe our program is on the verge.”
On Tylor Ongwae making All-Conference Third-Team
“Coming into this season, we hadn't had an all-conference player in our program since 2008, so third team to me is like All-American. It's an improvement with our program and he's returning. That's great too. Tylor's had a great year. I think third team was about right for him. As your program starts getting better, you should start getting some individual awards. That's about right for where we're at. Hopefully next year, Tylor can be either first or second or have two (all-conference) guys. That's how you build a program and you start winning more games. We are headed in the right direction.”
Quoting ULM junior Tylor Ongwae
On foul trouble
“The early fouls limited me on offense, because I was trying to avoid picking up charges. I got my third foul trying to box out, and it also affected me defensively since it made it hard for me to box out and get a rebound.”
Question ULM junior Marvin Williams
On whether just making the tournament was rewarding
“Yes, considering last year we only won four games. We really weren't successful, so I guess in that respect, it is rewarding. It would have been a little bit better if we had won this game. That would have been an extra step.”
On UTA's halftime adjustments
“In the first half they were boxing me out one-on-one and I was able to get most of my points off of offensive rebounds. In the second half, they sent two people at me to keep me off the boards.”
