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ULM Looks to Extend Home-Court Winning Streak Against Coppin State

ULM Looks to Extend Home-Court Winning Streak Against Coppin State

Men's Basketball Dec 21
GAME 11: COPPIN STATE (0-12) vs. ULM (6-4)
Friday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m.
Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
 
ULM Basketball Notes: Game 11 vs. Coppin State
 
HOLIDAY PROMOTION: BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
Purchase a courtside ($25), reserved seat ($15) or general admission ($10) ticket and receive a second one of the same value for free to the Dec. 21 game against Coppin State.
 
STORYLINE: ULM (6-4) puts its three-game winning streak on the line as the Warhawks complete a four-game homestand against Coppin State (0-12) on Friday, 21 at 7 p.m. The Warhawks are averaging better than 80 points per game during the current homestand. Overall, ULM has won four of its last five games.
 
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (17.9 points per game; 24 3-pointers), 6-4 guard JD Williams (13.4 ppg.), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (13.1) and 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (12.7 ppg., 6.5 rpg.).
 
THE STARTING FIVE –
• At 6-4, ULM has matched its best 10-game start since the 2014-15 season. The Warhawks finished the 2014-15 campaign with an overall record of 24-14, including an appearance in the 2015 College Basketball Invitational (CIT).
 
• During its three-game winning streak, ULM is averaging 80.3 points per game while shooting 45 percent (74-of-165) from the field, including 39 percent (28-of-72) from behind the 3-point arc. In addition, the Warhawks have limited their opponents to 64.3 points per game while shooting at a 38-percent clip (64-of-168) from the floor, including 31 percent (19-of-62) on 3-pointers. ULM also has a turnover margin of +5.7 per game during the winning streak.
 
The Warhawks have gotten off to a quick start in all three games, outscoring their opponents, 117-79, in the first half. ULM has built halftime leads of eight points against Grambling (28-20), 13 against Stephen F. Austin (40-27) and 17 against Nicholls State (49-32).
 
• With a victory over Coppin State, Keith Richard would reach two coaching milestones by recording his 100th win at ULM and his 250th career win.
 
• ULM leads the Sun Belt in 3-point field-goal percentage (.393) and ranks among the league leaders in scoring defense (second at 67.0 points per game), field-goal percentage defense (second at .400), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (second at .293), free-throw percentage (second at .746), assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.1), turnover margin (fourth at +1.6), 3-point field goals made (fifth at 8.6 per game) and scoring margin (fifth at +6.7 ppg.).
 
• Three-point field goals have accounted for 35 percent of ULM's scoring (86 3-pointers made; 258 of 737 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have attempted at least 20 3-pointers in six of their first 10 games.
 
In 2017-18, ULM set a school single-season record with 288 3-pointers made (previous record: 287 made, 2006-07).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT –
ULM 95, Nicholls State 68 (Dec. 18, 2018, in Monroe, La.): The ULM basketball squad's current homestand has been a good one so far.
 
Daishon Smith scored 23 points as the Warhawks knocked off Nicholls State, 95-68, Tuesday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Warhawks, who played six of their first seven games away from Monroe, are 4-0 at home this season with Coppin State set to visit ULM on Friday night to wrap up the friendly four-game stretch that includes wins over Grambling State and Stephen F. Austin.
 
Smith, who made three 3-pointers with five rebounds and four assists, was one of five Warhawks (6-4) in double figures scoring, with Michael Ertel (17), J.D. Williams (15), Tyree White (11) and Travis Munnings (10) helping boost the box score. ULM made 33-of-59 field goals while shooting 55.9 percent overall.
 
Jeremiah Jefferson led Nicholls (5-6) with 13 points but was just 3-of-10 on 3-pointers. The Colonels shot 38.1 percent against ULM and made 16 turnovers.
 
The Warhawks enjoyed a dominant first half while shooting 59.3 percent from the field and led by as many as 22 points at the 7:42 mark.
 
Smith set the scoring pace with 14 first-half points, a breakaway dunk and a pair of 3-pointers. He's regaining his form after missing three games with a hamstring injury.
 
Eight players scored during the first half as ULM took a 49-32 lead into the break. Nicholls shot just 38.9 percent from the floor.
 
White provided a spark off the bench, including a couple of two-handed dunks on swift, attacking post moves.
 
COPPIN STATE SCOUTING REPORT –
Coppin State has opened the 2018-19 season with 12-straight losses; however, three games have been decided by 10 points or less, including an 81-71 overtime loss at James Madison. Overall, the Eagles have lost 18 consecutive games, with their last win coming Feb. 5, 2018, at South Carolina State, 84-60.
 
Coppin State's starting lineup features one double-figure scorer, in 6-foot-2 guard Dejuan Clayton (10.1 ppg.). Clayton has scored in double figures in five games, including a season-high 17 points at James Madison. Lamar Morgan, a 6-6 swingman, ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game. Morgan, who leads the Eagles with 23 3-pointers, has posted double figures in seven games, including a season-high 20 points at JMU (hit 5-of-9 3-point field-goal attempts).
 
Second-year CSU head coach Juan Dixon was a two-time All-American at Maryland and became the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,269 career points. As a senior, Dixon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2002 NCAA Final Four after leading the Terrapins to their first National Championship.
 
ULM/COPPIN STATE SERIES NOTES –
Friday's game marks the second meeting between ULM and Coppin State. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 1-0.
 
Two years ago (Dec. 20, 2016), Marvin Jean-Pierre and Sam McDaniel combined for 44 points to lead ULM to a 65-53 victory over Coppin State in Baltimore. Jean-Pierre hit 10-of-12 field-goal attempts en route to a game-high 23 points while McDaniel recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Warhawks, who never trailed, led by as many as 19 points in the first half and enjoyed a 16-point lead at the intermission, 36-20. Jean-Pierre scored 13 of his 23 points in the opening half. ULM held a double-digit lead throughout the second half as McDaniel accounted for 14 of his team's 29 second-half points. The Warhawks outrebounded the Eagles, 43-34.
 
Dejaun Clayton came off the Coppin State bench to score a team-high 11 points.
 
ULM TOUGH TO BEAT WHEN SHOOTING 50 PERCENT OR BETTER FROM THE FIELD –
ULM is 12-1 in its last 13 games when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, with its only loss coming in the 2017-18 regular-season finale against Arkansas State (.509). The Warhawks shot a season-best 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the floor in Tuesday's 95-68 victory over Nicholls State.
 
2018-19 SCHEDULE NOTES –
ULM's 2018-19 schedule features eight games against opponents that appeared in the 2018 postseason, including four NCAA Tournament participants (Texas, Michigan State, Stephen F. Austin and Georgia State) and two National Invitation Tournament participants (LSU and ULL). In total, ULM will play 10 games against opponents that won 20 or more games last season.
 
RICHARD WELCOMES BACK TO ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS –
Ninth-year ULM head coach Keith Richard welcomes back four lettermen, including double-figures scorers Travis Munnings and Michael Ertel, from last year's team that finished 16-16 overall, 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. Munnings, a preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year candidate, led ULM in scoring (15.9 points per game) and rebounding (7.3 per game) in 2017-18, while Ertel was named the conference's Freshman of the Year after ranking third on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game.
 
ULM's 2018-19 roster also features eight newcomers, including Wichita State transfer Daishon Smith.
 
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