ULM Warhawks

 
2019-20 ULM Basketball Notes: Game 7 vs. Grambling
 
HOLIDAY TICKET PROMOTION | TOY DRIVE
Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Dec. 10 game against Grambling State and receive a free reserved seat ticket ($15 value). Donated toys will be distributed to children in the local community by the Salvation Army.
 
Prior to the game from 6-7 p.m., Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be available for pictures on the concourse. The photo session is sponsored by 2-High Trampoline Park.
 
STORYLINE –
ULM (4-2) concludes its three-game homestand against Grambling State (4-5) on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. The Warhawks have won 14 consecutive regular-season non-conference games in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. In addition, ULM is 18-3 (.857) in its last 21 home games, including a perfect 4-0 this season.
 
ULM's starting backcourt of Michael Ertel (18.2 ppg.) and JD Williams (17.5 ppg.) has combined to average 35.7 points per game. The tandem has combined to account for 53 percent of the team's scoring through the first six games. Ertel and Williams both rank among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 5 in scoring.
 
THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM is 30-7 (.811) in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum since 2017-18, including an 18-3 record (.857) in its last 21 home games. The Warhawks went 14-3 at home in 2018-19. The 14 home victories matched the second-highest single-season total in school history (six times; previous seasons: 1985-86, 1990-91, 1992-93, 2006-07, 2014-15 and 2018-19). The Warhawks won a single-season record 15 games (15-1) in 1978-79.
 
• The Warhawks have won 14 consecutive regular-season non-conference games in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM last lost a regular-season non-conference home game against Northwestern State, 76-61, on Nov. 21, 2017.
 
• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in field-goal percentage defense (second at .382), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (second at .304), scoring defense (third at 61.7 points per game), rebound margin (third at +2.8 pg.), blocked shots (third at 4.5 per game) and offensive rebounds (fourth at 11.5 pg.). In addition, the Warhawks are listed among the NCAA Division I leaders in field-goal percentage defense (No. 40), scoring defense (No. 45) and blocked shots per game (No. 59).
 
• Through six games, ULM hasn't allowed an opposing player to score 20 points. By comparison, the Warhawks have posted four 20-point games (3 by Michael Ertel and 1 by JD Williams).
 
• ULM's starting backcourt of Michael Ertel and JD Williams has combined to average 35.7 points per game. The tandem has combined to account for 53 percent of the team's scoring through the first six games. Ertel (second at 18.2 points per game) and Williams (fourth at 17.5 ppg.) both rank among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 5 in scoring.
 
Ertel also listed among the league's Top 10 in four additional statistical categories: fourth in minutes played (35.2 pg.), tied for fifth in 3-point field goals made (2.3 pg.), fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.368) and eighth in field-goal percentage (.461). The Indianapolis, Indiana, native has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games, (dating back to last season) including five 20-point outings.
 
Williams ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in three additional statistical categories: second in minutes played (36.5 per game), ninth in 3-point field goals made (2.0 pg.) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.781). His 36.5 minutes per game rank No. 23 among NCAA Division I players.
 
GRAMBLING STATE SCOUTING REPORT –
After opening the season with three-straight wins, Grambling State (4-5) has lost five of its last six games, including an 83-67 setback at Loyola Marymount Saturday night.
 
Third-year head coach Donte' Jackson welcomes back three starters from last year's team that finished 17-17 overall, including a 10-8 record in Southwestern Athletic Conference games. The Tigers were picked third in the SWAC preseason poll, behind Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern.
 
GSU's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-9 forward DeVante Jackson (15.1 points per game, 4.9 rpg.), 6-0 guard Ivy Smith Jr. (11.9 ppg., 5.2 assists pg.), 6-4 guard Anthony Gaston (10.7 ppg) and 6-7 guard Prince Moss (10.0 ppg.).
 
Jackson has scored in double figures in eight of nine games, including a career-high 26 points at Southeastern Louisiana (11-of-19 FG shooting) and 20 against Portland State (9-of-11 FG shooting). His .580 field-goal percentage leads the SWAC.
 
Smith, a preseason All-SWAC First-Team selection, leads the league in assists (5.2 pg.) and steals (3.56 pg.). He recorded nine assists each against Portland State and Paul Quinn. Smith has scored in double figures in six games, including a season-high 20 points at UCSB (9-of-9 FT shooting).
 
Gaston, who leads the team with 11 3-point field goals, has posted double figures in scoring five times, including a season-high 22 points against Ecclesia College (8-of-11 FG shooting including 2-of-4 3-pointers).
 
Moss opened the season with back-to-back 20-point games against East Texas Baptist (24) and Ecclesia College (22).
 
Grambling State leads the SWAC in six different statistical categories: scoring offense (82.4 ppg.), scoring margin (+9.3 ppg.), field-goal percentage (.481), 3-point field-goal percentage (.349), assists (16.0 pg.) and blocked shots (4.3 pg.). In addition, the Tigers rank among the conference leaders in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (second at .295), rebound margin (second at +3.7 pg.), scoring defense (third at 73.1 ppg.), field-goal percentage defense (third at .430), free-throw percentage (third at .700), offensive rebounds (third at 11.56 pg.) and steals (third at 10.1 pg.).
 
ULM/GRAMBLING STATE SERIES NOTES –
Tuesday's game marks the 14th meeting between ULM and Grambling State. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 10-3, including an 8-1 record in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM has won the last eight meetings, but five of those games have been decided by 10 points or less.
 
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 72, Grambling State 67 (Dec. 11, 2018, in Monroe, La.): Daishon Smith and Travis Munnings combined for 35 points to lead ULM to a 72-67 non-conference victory over Grambling State 11 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM never trailed while extending its series winning streak to eight-straight games over the Tigers.
 
Back-to-back baskets by Munnings, who finished the fast break with a dunk off a nifty pass from Smith and followed with a short hook shot right of the lane, gave the Warhawks a 7-2 lead. Grambling State (4-6) converted four-straight free throws – two each from Ivy Smith Jr. and Zavier Peart – to cut its deficit to 7-6 with 14:29 to play in the opening half. JD Williams buried a 3-pointer from the left wing to spark a 13-3 run as ULM (4-4) built a 13-point advantage at 26-13 with 4:13 left in the first half. The Tigers outscored the Warhawks, 7-2, over the final 3:54 to pull to within 28-20 at the intermission.
 
ULM limited to Grambling State to 25 percent (5-of-20) shooting from the field in the first half, including just 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
 
Nigel Ribeiro drove the right side of the lane for a layup and knocked down a jumper just inside the top of the circle as the Tigers closed the gap to 28-24 early in the second half. ULM responded with a 15-2 spurt and built its largest lead at 17 points, 43-26, as Munnings connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the circle with 14:34 remaining in the second half. Grambling State put together a 14-6 run and cut its deficit to 59-53 on a jumper by Dallas Polk-Hilliard with 6:37 to play. The Warhawks scored six-straight points and pushed their lead back into double digits at 66-55 as Michael Ertel broke the press down the left side of the floor and finished with a layup high off the glass with 4:26 left in the game. The Tigers went on a 7-0 run and rallied to within 66-62 as Polk-Hilliard grabbed a loose ball in the lane for a layup with 2:17 on the clock. ULM hit 6-of-8 free-throw attempts over the final 1:59 to ice the game.
 
Smith scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to pace the Warhawks. Munnings finished with 16 points while Ertel and Williams each contributed 11 points. Andre Washington added nine points and matched his career high with 11 rebounds.
 
ULM shot 37 percent (20-of-54) from the floor, including 7-of-24 (29 percent) from behind the 3-point arc.
 
Polk-Hilliard, who hit 6-of-12 field-goal attempts and collected a career-high 11 boards, led Grambling State with 18 points. The Tigers also got 12 points each from Ivy Smith Jr. and Devante Jackson.
 
Grambling State outrebounded ULM, 41-31.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT –
ULM 86, Millsaps College 63 (Dec. 4, 2019, in Monroe, La.): Second-half surges haven't been a trademark for ULM basketball this season.
 
The Warhawks showed improvement in that area down the stretch by closing out Millsaps College, 86-63, at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
ULM (4-2) outscored the visiting Division III team, 47-30, after intermission to break open what began as a back-and-forth affair. Michael Ertel led ULM in scoring with 21 points and was 8-for-10 shooting. Ertel has scored in double figures in 13-straight games and topped 20 points for the fifth time during that stretch.
  
Last time out against Northwestern State, ULM led by as many as 18 points but allowed the Demons to cut the deficit to single digits in a 77-69 Warhawks' win. Overall, ULM had been outscored, 171-141, in the second half through the first five games.
 
JD Williams fueled ULM's strong second-half showing by scoring 15 of his 17 points. Williams scored just two points in the first half and was held without a field goal.
 
Keith Richard opened the second half with Ertel, Williams, Youry White, Jalen Hodge and Tyree White on the court.  
 
Tyree White added 10 points and Youry White grabbed eight rebounds. ULM shot 50 percent in the second half (15-of-30) and 46.7 percent in the game (28-of-60).
 
ULM finished the first half on a 10-0 run, held Millsaps scoreless over the final 6:31 and led 39-33 at the break. Ertel paced the Warhawks with 12 first-half points.
 
There were eight lead changes in the first 20 minutes. Millsaps led by four at 31-27 with 6:31 remaining in the half before hitting a dry spell against the Warhawks.
 
ULM RECORDS 1,000TH WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY –
With its 73-72 overtime win over Alcorn State on Nov. 9, ULM recorded its 1,000th victory in program history since beginning competition as a four-year institution in 1951-52 (69th season). Keith Richard's 116 career victories at ULM rank third on the all-time list, trailing only Mike Vining (402; 1981-05) and Lenny Fant (326; 1957-79). That trio has accounted for 844 of ULM's 1,002 all-time wins as a four-year institution.
 
WARHAWKS DOMINATE THE GLASS IN SEASON OPENER –
ULM outrebounded NCAA Division III Louisiana College, 57-24, in the season opener. The +33 rebound margin is tied for the eighth-best mark recorded during the 2019-20 season. UMKC outrebounded Bacone College by +41, 56-15, on Nov. 18.
 
ULM LOOKS TO EXTEND POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT STREAK –
ULM made its 13th postseason appearance in program history in 2019. It marked the Warhawks' fourth trip to postseason play in the last five years, including their third appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. ULM knocked off Kent State, 87-77, the first round of the 2019 CIT before falling to Texas State in triple overtime, 108-102, in the quarterfinals.
 
2019-20 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Different Starting Combinations (1):
Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei: 6 games (4-2 record)
 
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (16): JD Williams 6, Michael Ertel 6, Youry White 1, Chris Efretuei 1, Jalen Hodge 1, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 15.
 
20-point games (4): Michael Ertel 3, JD Williams 1. Opponents: None.
 
30-point games (0): None. Opponents: None.
 
40-point games (0): None. Opponents: None.
 
Double-figure rebounding games (1): D'Andre Bernard 1. Opponents: 2.
 
Double-doubles (0): None. Opponents: 1.
 
Games leading ULM in scoring: JD Williams 3, Michael Ertel 3.
 
Games leading ULM in rebounding: D'Andre Bernard 2, Chris Efretuei 2, Tyree White 1, Michael Ertel 1, Youry White 1.
 
Games leading ULM in assists: Michael Ertel 3, JD Williams 2, Tyree White 1 Jalen Hodge 1, Erie Olonade 1.
 
2019-20 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 4-0
Games played on the road: 0-2
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0                    
 
Games played in November: 3-2
Games played in December: 1-0
Games played in January: 0-0
Games played in February: 0-0
Games played in March: 0-0                              
 
When leading at halftime: 4-1
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
 
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 1-0
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 3-2
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-0
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 4-2
 
When outrebounding opponent: 1-1
When outrebounded by opponent: 2-1
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
 
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 4-0
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 0-2
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-0
 
When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 1-0                    
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 2-2
When turnover totals are equal: 1-0
 
When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-1         
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-1
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 1-0
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 2-0
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 1-0
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 0-0
 
When opponent scores less than 50 points: 1-0  
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 0-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 2-2
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 0-0
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-0
 
Games decided by five points or less: 1-0
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-1
Games decided by 11-19 points: 0-1
Games decided by 20 points or more: 2-0
                                                                        
Last five games: 3-2                                                 
Last 10 games: ----
 
Largest deficit overcome to win: 4 (7-3 vs. Alcorn State, Nov. 9; 31-27 vs. Millsaps College, Dec. 4)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 10 (34-24 at Texas A&M, Nov. 11)
 
UPCOMING HOLIDAY PROMOTIONS –
Buy One Get One Free (BOGO)
Thursday, Dec. 19 vs. Little Rock (7 p.m. tipoff)
Purchase a courtside-riser seat ($20), reserved seat ($15) or general admission ($10) ticket and receive a second one of the same value for free to the Dec. 19 Sun Belt Conference opener against Little Rock.
 
Youth Day
Saturday, Dec. 21 vs. Arkansas State (2 p.m. tipoff)
Youth 18 and under will receive a free general admission ticket to the Dec. 21 Sun Belt Conference game against Arkansas State. Following the game, children 12 and under will be permitted on the court to shoot baskets for 30 minutes.