ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. – ULM senior forward Travis Munnings, who led the team in scoring (15.9 points per game), rebounding (7.3 per game) and minutes played (34.6 pg.) last season, has been named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, as selected by the league's head coaches. In addition, guard Michael Ertel, who became the first Warhawk to earn the league's Freshman of the Year honors, has been selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
 
The 6-foot-6, 200-pount Munnings ranked among the Sun Belt leaders in minutes played (third), field-goal percentage (fifth at .470), rebounding (seventh), 3-point field goals made (10th at 2.2 pg.) and scoring (11th) in 2017-18. He ranked as the only Warhawk to start all 32 games and finished second on the team in 3-point field-goal percentage (.389). Munnings led the team in rebounding 16 times and scoring 12 times. He scored in double figures 26 times, including nine 20-point games, and recorded three double-doubles (points and rebounds). Munnings averaged 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds over his last 15 games.
 
"I'm really proud of Travis Munnings because he's improved his game every year he's been here," Richard said. "As a coach, it's very gratifying to watch his progression as a player and see him being rewarded for all of this hard work. He came here as a good athlete, who played really hard all the time. Now, heading into his senior year, Travis has become a really skilled basketball player, who plays really hard all the time.
 
"He's having a good career, and we need him to play like an all-conference player for us to have a good season."
 
The Freeport, Bahamas, native was named Sun Belt Player of the Week after averaging 21.0 points and 5.5 rebounds while helping ULM to a home-court sweep over UT Arlington and Texas State. Munnings made 9-of-21 3-pointers (41 percent) during that two-game stretch. He played a solid all-around game against UT Arlington, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 40 minutes. Munnings scored a game-high 26 points, hitting 5-of-11 3-pointers, to go along with five rebounds and two steals against Texas State.
 
He produced a double-double in ULM's 66-64 win at Georgia Southern, finishing with a game-high 26 points (9-of-17 FG shooting; 5-of-9 3-pointers) to go along with a career-best 20 rebounds. Munnings also became the 37th player in ULM history to join the 1,000-point club with his 3-pointer from the left baseline with 17:40 left in the first half at Georgia Southern.
 
Munnings hit 14-of-18 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 three-pointers, en route to a career-high 31 points against Rust College. He posted a game-high nine rebounds to go along with five assists and three steals against the Bearcats.
 
The 6-2, 175-pound Ertel started 27 of 32 games as a true freshman and finished third on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game. His 54 3-pointers ranked third on the team, and he made at least one 3-pointer in 27 games. Ertel scored in double figures 17 times, including 10 league games. He averaged 14.9 points over his last 10 games.
 
"Michael Ertel's confidence has really grown, especially as a scorer," Richard said. "He put in extra time in the weight room during the offseason, and he's gotten stronger. His mid-range game improved as last season progressed, and he had a very good second half of the season. You need good guard play to consistently win in college basketball, and we're hoping Michael can make another jump (in his game) this year."
 
Ertel scored eight of his 21 points in overtime at Georgia State, hitting 8-of-13 shots from the floor including 3-of-6 3-pointers. He added five rebounds and a season-high six assists at GSU.
 
The Indianapolis, Indiana, native led ULM in scoring for the third-straight game with a season-high 22 points vs. Troy (8-of-16 FG shooting including 2-of-6 3-pointers). Ertel netted 13 of his 16 points in the second half at UT Arlington (4-of-9 3FG shooting) and collected a season-high eight rebounds. He tallied 18 points at Texas State (7-of-13 FG shooting), scoring 16 second-half points (6-of-9 FG shooting).
 
Richard welcomes back four lettermen from last year's team that finished 16-16 overall, tied for fifth in the Sun Belt (9-9) and participated in the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. It marked ULM's third trip to postseason play in the last four years. The Warhawks, who were picked to finish 12th in the 2017-18 preseason poll, got off to a 1-6 start in conference play, but ULM won eight of its last 11 league games to climb into a tie for fifth place in the final standings.
 
Sun Belt head coaches have voted ULM to finish in a fourth-place tie with Troy (89 points each) in their preseason poll. Georgia State is the preseason favorite to win the league championship after receiving all 12 first-place votes and the maximum 144 points, followed by Georgia Southern and ULL, which tied for second with 125 points each.
 
"I really like this basketball team, especially our athleticism and versatility," Richard said. "Our expectations are high for the upcoming season, but with so many newcomers on the roster, I also understand it will take some time for this team to gel. Our goal is to steadily improve throughout the season, so that we're playing meaningful games in late February and early March. The only standings that truly matter are the ones at the end of the regular season."
 
ULM has an exhibition game schedule for Thursday, Nov. 1 against Henderson State in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. The Warhawks open the 2018-19 regular season on the road at Jackson State on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.