LAS VEGAS – The ULM men's basketball program closed out its non-conference slate with a 75-64 defeat to Hampton on Wednesday at Orleans Arena in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic.
Senior Majok Deng registered a team-high 16 points for the Warhawks (5-7, 1-0 SBC) and also grabbed five rebounds. Senior Justin Roberson and junior Nick Coppola scored 12 points apiece.
Hampton (5-6, 1-0 MEAC) was led by 19 points from both Quinton Chievous and Brian Darden. Reginald Johnson Jr. finished with 16 points. The team held a 44-26 edge in points in the paint.
The Pirates started the game hot and made four of their first eight three-pointers to build a 22-10 lead with 11:43 left in the first half. ULM answered with a 6-0 run which included four points from Roberson to cut the deficit to 22-16 at the 9:11 mark.
ULM trailed 24-18 when Hampton used a 6-0 spurt to push its lead back up to 30-18 with 5:33 to go. The Pirates carried the 12-point advantage, 42-30, into the break.
The Warhawks made the first two baskets of the second half from Roberson and Deng cut the deficit to 42-34. The Pirates responded with a 6-0 run to go back up 48-34 with 17:40 remaining. Hampton extended its edge to 52-36 at the 14:11 mark.
ULM kept fighting the whole way and got it down to 70-61 with 2:12 to go after a free throw by Roberson.
Sophomore Lance Richard made a three-pointer with 13.7 seconds left.
It was a quick turnaround for a ULM squad that played a triple overtime game against Canisius the day before and had less than 24 hours to recover. Three different players saw at least 52 minutes of action against the Golden Griffins.
ULM will have eight days off before taking the floor again when it resumes Sun Belt Conference play against Appalachian State on Thursday, Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks opened league action on Dec. 3 with an 81-70 victory over UL-Lafayette.
NOTES
- ULM outscored Hampton, 15-12 off the bench and 16-12 in points off turnovers. Each team had 13 turnovers
- Coppola posted his third consecutive double-figure scoring game, seventh of the season and 35th of his career. He moved up to No. 9 in career starts with 77, surpassing Lance Brasher. Coppola needs seven more starts to move into a tie for seventh-place. Coppola has started every game of his career
- Deng reached double-figures in scoring for the 16th time in his last 17 outings dating back to last season. It was his 33rd career double-digit scoring game and eighth this season
- Roberson notched his 20th career double-figure scoring game, sixth this season and third in a row
- It marked the first-ever meeting between ULM and Hampton
