MONROE, La. – Travis Munnings scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead ULM to a 94-52 victory over NCAA Division III Millsaps College Saturday in its home opener in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Munnings, who hit 7-of-11 shots from the field including 3-of-6 3-pointers, also collected nine rebounds.
 
There were four ties and eight lead changes in the first half. A 3-pointer by Michael Sullivan gave Millsaps its biggest lead at 27-23 with 4:48 left in the opening half. ULM outscored the Majors, 16-5, over the next 4:19 and took a 39-32 lead at the intermission. Millsaps outrebounded the Warhawks, 22-14, in the 20 minutes and enjoyed a 15-7 edge in second-chance points.
 
"I was never worried that we were going to lose the game," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "But for this particular team, it has to play really good offensively. In the first half, we struggled offensively. We missed some fast-break layups, then the next thing you know we're missing some wide open 3s. It became a struggle offensively, and it created some problems on the defensive end. Effort was never an issue. We were playing hard.
 
"Once we got going offensively and found the right groove or rhythm late in the first half and on into the second half, our defense played much better. Playing well on the offensive end translates into this team playing much better basketball overall."
 
Munnings hit a jumper in the lane and knocked down a 3-pointer to spark a 14-2 run to open the second half as ULM raced out to a 53-34 lead. Andre Washington's dunk fueled an 18-4 spurt as the Warhawks extended their lead to 34 points at 79-45 on a jumper by Brandon Newman with 6:12 remaining in the game. ULM (2-0) outscored Millsaps, 55-20, in the second half while shooting 55 percent from the floor (18-of-33), including 6-of-13 3-pointers. The Warhawks also outmuscled the Majors on the backboards in the second half, 29-17.
 
Munnings led the second-half surge, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the floor including 3-of-4 3-pointers.
 
"At halftime, we talked to Travis about being more aggressive offensively," Richard said. "He took only four shots in the first half. He's an all-league players and a big part of our offense. Travis came out the first five minutes of the second half and exerted himself offensively.
 
"I was glad to see us correct ourselves and do a better job offensively because it led to a lot better stuff overall."
 
Three other ULM starters joined Munnings in double figures, as Michael Ertel contributed 16 points and Daishon Smith and Washington each added 10 points.
 
Twelve different players saw action and 10 scored for the Warhawks.
 
"It's good anytime you can get all your players into the game," Richard said. "It's a feel-good moment that can carry over into the next practices and games.
 
"We're going to watch the film, particularly the first half. We need to help find ways to be more consistent offensively throughout the full 40 minutes. At times, we run the break well, and during stretches, we're really good in our half-court offense. But this team needs to be really good offensively for 40 minutes in order to compete at a high level."
 
Newlon Gillihan, who connected on 3-of-4 3-pointers, led Millsaps in scoring with nine points, followed by Sullivan, who tossed in eight points.
 
ULM plays its next five games on the road, beginning at Texas (2-0) on Monday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Two nights later, the Warhawks visit Michigan State (1-1).
 
"These road games will be good tests," Richard said. "We're going to find out a lot about our team over the next month. As coaches, we'll use these games to make adjustments and tweaks on both ends of the floor to help us play better basketball moving forward throughout the year."