MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball program opened the game on a 17-0 run and never looked back as it downed McMurry, 88-43 in the season opener on Friday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
It marked the largest margin of victory in program history in a season opener for ULM (1-0), which was paced with 14 points apiece from seniors DeMondre Harvey and Majok Deng. Harvey's scoring marked a new career-high, while Deng matched a career-high with four blocks.
Junior Prince Cooper also recorded career-highs of 12 points and seven rebounds. Senior Justin Roberson scored in double-figures with 11 points on five-for-seven shooting.
Off the bench, junior Marcus Washington and freshman Roderick Taylor pitched in with nine points each.
Freshman Travis Munnings grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with his six points and four steals.
The 17-0 run to start the game included seven points from Roberson and six from Harvey at the 13:08 mark. ULM's biggest lead of the half, 43-9, came with 1:25 left after Washington drained a three-pointer. McMurry (0-1) answered with a long-range shot from Blake Cochran to make it a 43-12 game at the break.
The Warhawks got their lead up to 40 points at the 8:03 mark after a pair of free throws by Cooper made it 71-31. ULM's biggest lead of the contest was 45 points which first came after a layup by Munnings with 5:04 to go. ULM got its lead back up to 45 on its last possession after a bucket by Cooper.
LaRandall Scroggins reached double-figures with 10 points for McMurry.
The Warhawks will play their first road game on Sunday when they head to Minnesota for a 2:00 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network. Follow the ULM men's basketball program on Twitter, @ULM_MBB, for live in-game updates.
NOTES
- The previous largest margin of victory by ULM in a season opener was 30 points set twice; 1960-61 over Arkansas-Monticello, 82-52 and 2004-05 over Texas College, 96-66
- The 45-point victory was the seventh largest in school history
- ULM shot 62.3 percent (33-53) from the field. It was the first time it shot over 60 percent in a game since Nov. 28, 2011 when it posted a .620 (31-50) mark against Nicholls State in an 86-65 victory
- The Warhawks won their home opener by at least 45 points for the second year in a row as they defeated Champion Baptist, 106-39 last year.
- ULM improved to 405-173 all-time in Fant-Ewing Coliseum and 47-18 all-time in home openers. The Warhawks won their home opener for the third year in a row
- The Warhawks are off to a 1-0 start for the second straight year after topping UAB last season, 74-65 on the road
- ULM remained as one of three teams in the country to not allow 75 points in a game over the last two seasons (along with St. Peter's & Baylor)
- The Warhawks have not lost a non-conference home game in the month of November since 2011-12
- Harvey tallied his fifth career double-digit scoring game. He broke his previous career-high of 13 points set last season at home against Georgia State on March 5, 2015
- Cooper topped his career-highs of three points and five rebounds set last season against Champion Baptist set on Nov. 17, 2014
- Deng notched his ninth consecutive double-figure scoring game dating back to last season and the 26th of his career. He matched his career-high with four blocks set last season at UAB on Nov. 15, 2014
- Roberson registered his 16th career double-figure scoring game
- For the game, ULM outrebounded McMurry 41-23 and held scoring edges of 38-10 in the paint, 28-5 off turnovers and 47-19 off the bench
- It marked the first-ever meeting between ULM and McMurry
Quoting ULM head coach Keith Richard
Opening Statement
“I'm glad we got to play everybody. We had a lot of minutes spread out among all of our players which was something we wanted to do today. Especially for the new guys and the guys who didn't get to play much last year. We wanted them to feel good out there on the floor and I think we accomplished that.”
On career-highs from DeMondre Harvey and Prince Cooper
"DeMondre got some rebounds and played physical in there like he has at times in the past. Prince is a guy that didn't get to play much last year but we're really looking at him this year for some off-the-bench play. He's coming along and we'll see how he does as we move forward in competition, but he's certainly one that we're looking at.”
On Minnesota on Sunday
“It's going to be 10 times the talent level from what we've seen. We're going to play a good Big Ten team and a quality program. So far we've played a scrimmage, an exhibition and a non-Division I game, and it's time to go play somebody and see where we're at. We'll see what our team can and can't do moving forward.”
