Game 24: ULM (13-10, 6-5 Sun Belt) vs. RAGIN' CAJUNS (14-10, 5-6 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m.
Lafayette, La. | Cajundome (12,362)
ULM Basketball Notes: Game 24 vs. Ragin' Cajuns
STORYLINE –
ULM (13-10, 6-5 Sun Belt) travels to Lafayette, La., in search of its first conference road win of the season (0-4) against the Ragin' Cajuns (14-10, 5-6) on Saturday, Feb. 16. All five starters scored in double figures as the Warhawks won the first regular-season meeting, 99-95. ULM's last regular-season series sweep over ULL came during the 2014-15 campaign.
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (21.9 points per game; 73 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (15.4 ppg., 50 3-pointers), 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (13.5 ppg., 7.6 rpg.) and 6-4 guard JD Williams (12.7 ppg.).
THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in free-throw percentage (third at .788), 3-point field-goal percentage (ninth at .396) and 3-point field goals made (21st at 9.8 per game).
The Warhawks lead the Sun Belt in four different statistical categories: 3-point field goals made per game, 3-point field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). ULM also ranks among the league leaders in scoring offense (fourth at 78.3 points per game), scoring margin (fourth at +4.3 ppg.), turnover margin (fifth at +1.3), scoring defense (sixth at 73.9 ppg.) and assists (sixth at 13.4 pg.).
• Three-point field goals have accounted for 38 percent of ULM's scoring (226 3-pointers made; 678 of 1,800 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have made double-digit 3-pointers in 11 games, including seven of their first 11 Sun Belt games. ULM is averaging a league-best 10.7 3-pointers per game in Sun Belt play.
The Warhawks tied the school single-game record with 17 3s in the 2019 conference opener against Little Rock. (ULM also made 17 3-pointers in a 90-82 overtime win at Georgia State on Feb. 10, 2018). ULM has attempted at least 20 3-pointers in 19 of their first 23 games.
In 2017-18, ULM set a school single-season record with 288 3-pointers made (previous record: 287 made, 2006-07).
• ULM is 8-1 this season when limiting its opponents to 69 points or less. The Warhawks have held four opponents to a field-goal percentage below 39 percent. Only seven opponents (Ole Miss .524, LSU .525, Little Rock .620, South Alabama .527, Coastal Carolina .529, Appalachian State .564 and Georgia Southern .556) have managed to shoot better than 50 percent from the field against ULM.
The Warhawks also have made more free throws (398) than their opponents have attempted (393) this season. Through the first 23 games, ULM has outscored its opponents, 398-271, from the free-throw line.
• ULM has compiled a 13-7 record with senior guard Daishon Smith in the starting lineup (sidelined for three games with a hamstring injury; DNP in road games at Texas, Michigan State and Tennessee Tech). Smith ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in 3-point field goals made (10th at 3.65 per game), free-throw percentage (13th at .896), scoring (19th at 21.9 points per game), 3-point field-goal percentage (31st at .435) and steals (35th at 2.1 pg.). He leads the Sun Belt in scoring, 3-point field goals made per game and 3-point field-goal percentage. Smith also ranks among the league leaders in free-throw percentage (second), steals (second), assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth at 1.8), assists (sixth at 3.9 pg.), field-goal percentage (ninth at .463) and minutes played (ninth at 33.2 pg.).
The Jacksonville, Florida, native has scored in double figures in 19 games, including 11 20-point outings. Smith has scored in double figures in 16-straight games, averaging 23.0 points during that span. He is averaging 24.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in Sun Belt play.
• With his offensive rebound with 1:17 left in the first half against the Ragin' Cajuns, ULM senior forward Travis Munnings became just the fourth player in school history to score at least 1,000 career points and collect at least 800 career rebounds.
Members of ULM's 1,000/800 Club include Calvin Natt (1975-79: 2,581 points and 1,285 rebounds), Henry Steele (1968-72: 1,933 points and 1,161 rebounds), Bill Snellings (1966-71: 1,215 points and 1,093 rebounds) and Munnings (2015-19: 1,501 points and 856 rebounds).
In addition, Munnings became the 20th player in Sun Belt history to reach the 800-rebound career milestone.
LOOSE BALLS –
Seven of ULM's last nine games have been decided by six points or less (3-4 record). ... ULM has led at the half in 15 of its 23 games and outscored its opponents, 850-768, in the first half this season. ... The Warhawks have made 20 or more free throws in 10 games. ULM has shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line in 12 of 23 games, including eight of its last 12 contests. …
ULM has outrebounded nine of its last 10 opponents, and its +10 rebound margin (37-27) in an 82-76 victory over Georgia State marked its second-largest edge of the season. ... ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in fewest fouls committed (No. 18 at 359). The Warhawks have been whistled for fewer fouls than their opponents in 17 of 23 games. … ULM ranks second in the Sun Belt in attendance for league home games (3,768 per game) and third in overall average home attendance (2,874 per game).
THE LAST TIME OUT –
ULM 88, Georgia Southern 79 (Feb. 8, 2019, in Monroe, La.): Daishon Smith faced a family tragedy this week and used his basketball gifts to pay tribute the most appropriate way he knew how.
Following his 38-point performance in ULM's 88-79 victory over Georgia Southern, Smith revealed publicly that his little brother Marquis (17) had been killed three days earlier.
Smith, who scored 36 in a win over Georgia State, delivered another uplifting stat line with five 3-pointers, six rebounds, 13-of-15 free throws and six assists in 40 minutes. After each big play or big shot, he held his hands up high and showed more emotion on the court than he has all season.
A season-high crowd of 5,366 was there to support Smith and the Warhawks (13-10, 6-5 in the Sun Belt Conference), who improved to 11-1 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Travis Munnings scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds while Ertel added 15 points and five boards. JD Williams scored 10.
Tookie Brown led Georgia Southern (14-10, 6-5) with 28 points in another offensive showdown for the Warhawks, who had lost three straight coming into their two-game homestand.
ULM led 39-36 at the half behind 17 points from Smith. The first half featured seven ties with neither team leading by more than six points. Brown paced Georgia Southern with 10 points.
The tight-knit nature of the game continued into the second half. ULM scored the first five to go up by eight but Georgia Southern responded.
Brown's 3-point play at the 16:11 mark gave the Eagles a 52-49 lead, their first time ahead since 14:52 remained in the first half.
Georgia Southern led by as many as five points before ULM regained the lead with 8:32 to go and started building on it. Four turnovers by the Eagles over a stretch of nearly three minutes allowed ULM to build a 71-65 advantage on a pair of Smith free throws at the 6:51 mark.
Smith helped put the finishing touches on Georgia Southern's hopes with a pair of 3-pointers that pushed the lead up to 77-68 with 3:34 left.
RAGIN' CAJUN SCOUTING REPORT –
The Ragin' Cajuns, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 76-72 win over Georgia State, enter Saturday's game against ULM with an overall record of 14-10, including a 5-6 mark in Sun Belt play. ULL is 8-3 in games played in the Cajundome this season, including a 4-2 record in league games.
ULL's starting lineup features two double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-8 forward JaKeenan Gant (21.1 ppg., 8.3 rpg., 2.9 bpg.) and 6-2 guard Marcus Stroman (11.8 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 6.3 apg.). The Ragin' Cajuns also receive steady production from 6-6 junior Justin Miller, who averages 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Gant ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in six different statistical categories: first in blocked shots, second in field-goal percentage (.544), second in rebounding, third in scoring, third in offensive rebounds (3.0 pg.) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.788). The senior from Springfield, Georgia, is averaging 26.4 points and 9.1 rebounds in league games. Gant has recorded nine double-doubles, including seven in Sun Belt play.
Stroman, who leads the league in assists and steals (2.1 pg.), has produced double-digit assists in four games. He also has scored in double figures in 14 games.
Miller has posted three double-doubles, including 13 points and 13 rebounds at Georgia State.
The Ragin' Cajuns rank among the Sun Belt leaders in steals (first at 7.7 pg.), scoring offense (second at 83.0 ppg.), free-throw percentage (second at .753), assists (third at 14.8 pg.), assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.1), turnover margin (third at +1.8 pg.), 3-point field goals made (fourth at 9.2 pg.), offensive rebounding (fourth at 11.3 pg.), rebounding (fifth at 35.7 pg.) and blocked shots (fifth at 4.0 pg.).
Ninth-year ULL head coach Bob Marlin launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant (1981-83) at ULM under legendary coach Mike Vining.
ULM/RAGIN' CAJUNS SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the 79th meeting between ULM and ULL. The Ragin' Cajuns lead the all-time series, 51-27, including a 31-6 record in games played in Lafayette. ULL has won the six of the last 11 meetings in the series. Six of the last 11 meetings have been decided by nine points or less. ULM's last win in the Cajundome came on Jan. 19, 2015, 57-55.
The Warhawks' last regular-season series sweep over ULL came during the 2014-15 campaign.
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 99, Ragin' Cajuns 95 (Jan. 19, 2019, in Monroe, La.): ULM made its point with lots of points against Louisiana Lafayette and the Warhawks needed them all. Five Warhawks reached double figures scoring and ULM outlasted the Ragin' Cajuns, 99-95, at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Daishon Smith scored 27 points while setting career highs with seven rebounds and eight assists. Michael Ertel established his career high in scoring with 23 points, J.D. Williams scored 15 points and matched his career best with nine rebounds, Andre Washington scored a career-high 12 points and added seven rebounds and Travis Munnings contributed 11 points and eight boards.
ULM (10-7, 3-2 in the Sun Belt) improved to 8-0 at home. The crowd of 4,317 was the home team's largest and most raucous gathering of the season.
JaKeenan Gant led ULL (11-7, 2-3) with 31 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Two buzzer-beater losses on the road last week had ULM in no mood to keep it close early on. The Warhawks were on fire from the start, shooting their way to a 35-15 lead by the 9:34 mark. Ertel scored 10 points with two 3-pointers during the early blitz.
With 1:17 left in the first half, Munnings reached a solid milestone with his 800th career rebound. Munnings became just the fourth player in school history with 1,000 career points and 800 boards, joining Calvin Natt, Henry Steele and Bill Snellings in the exclusive club.
ULM led by as many as 22 points in the opening half while shooting 57 percent overall and 50 percent (7 of 14) from 3-point territory. Smith led ULM scorers with 14. Williams hit a long buzzer-beater as time expired in the first half to send ULM to the dressing room up 53-39.
The Warhawks cooled off to shoot 40.6 percent in the second half and 49.3 percent overall, and the Ragin' Cajuns made their run. A 3-pointer by P.J. Hardy at the 12:31 mark cut the lead to six at 64-58.
ULM kept ULL from getting any closer until Hardy's 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining cut the lead to 90-87. But Ertel answered immediately on the other end with a clutch 3-ball to boost ULM back ahead 93-87.
The Cajuns cut it to 95-92 on Justin Miller's layup with 15.2 second left in the game. Fouled with 8.2 seconds, Smith calmly hit a pair of free throws.
ULL's Cedric Russell stroked a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to get it to two at 97-95, but Smith was fouled again and added two more free throws for the final margin, 99-95.
Smith made 13-of-13 free throws in the game, and ULM was 21-of-25 from the line overall.
Smith Earns National, Sun Belt & LSWA Player of the Week Honors –
ULM senior guard Daishon Smith, who averaged 37.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game while leading the Warhawks to a home sweep over Georgia State (82-76) and Georgia Southern (88-79), was named College Sports Madness National Mid-Major Player of the Week and Lou Henson Award National (Mid-Major) Co-Player of the Week. Smith shared the weekly Lou Henson Award with Yale's Miye Oni.
In addition, he was selected Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Sports Writer's Association Player of the Week for his performances against Georgia State and Georgia Southern.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound transfer from Wichita State hit 20-of-41 field-goal attempts (49 percent), including 10-of-22 3-pointers (46 percent), and 24-of-26 free-throw attempts (92 percent). In addition, he played 77 out of 80 minutes.
Smith scored a game-high 38 points, connecting on 5-of-11 shots from 3-point range, and collected six rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Warhawks' 88-79 victory over Georgia Southern last Friday. He netted 21 second-half points against the Eagles, accounting for 15 of ULM's 17 points during a 5:14 stretch.
Smith turned in a solid all-around performance in ULM's 82-76 win over first-place Georgia State last Wednesday, finishing with 36 points, a career-best eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He scored 22 second-half points against the Panthers, including seven straight during a 30-second span in the final 1:37 to turn a one-point deficit into an 80-74 lead. He went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
The Jacksonville, Florida, native dedicated those games to the memory of his younger brother Marquis Smith, who was killed last Tuesday.
It marks the second time this season Smith has collected these top weekly national, conference and statewide honors. He averaged 33.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game while leading ULM to a home sweep over Little Rock and Arkansas State to open Sun Belt play.
MUNNINGS JOINS EXCLUSIVE 1,000/800 CLUB –
With his offensive rebound with 1:17 left in the first half against the Ragin' Cajuns, ULM senior forward Travis Munnings became just the fourth player in school history to score at least 1,000 career points and collect at least 800 career rebounds.
Members of ULM's 1,000/800 Club include Calvin Natt (1975-79: 2,581 points and 1,285 rebounds), Henry Steele (1968-72: 1,933 points and 1,161 rebounds), Bill Snellings (1966-71: 1,215 points and 1,093 rebounds) and Munnings (2015-19: 1,501 points and 856 rebounds).
In addition, Munnings became the 20th player in Sun Belt history to reach the 800-rebound career milestone.
DIALED IN FROM 3-POINT RANGE –
Three-point field goals have accounted for 38 percent of ULM's scoring (226 3-pointers made; 678 of 1,800 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have made double-digit 3-pointers in 11 games, including seven of their first 11 Sun Belt games. ULM is averaging a league-best 10.7 3-pointers per game in Sun Belt play.
The Warhawks tied the school single-game record with 17 3s in the 2019 conference opener against Little Rock. (ULM also made 17 3-pointers in a 90-82 overtime win at Georgia State on Feb. 10, 2018). ULM has attempted at least 20 3-pointers in 19 of their first 23 games.
In 2017-18, ULM set a school single-season record with 288 3-pointers made (previous record: 287 made, 2006-07).
ULM TOUGH TO BEAT WHEN SHOOTING 50 PERCENT OR BETTER FROM THE FIELD –
ULM is 15-2 in its last 17 games when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, with its only losses coming at Appalachian State (.527) and against Arkansas State (.509) in the 2017-18 regular-season finale. The Warhawks are 6-1 when hitting 50 percent or better from the floor in 2018-19, with wins over Millsaps (.516), Northwestern State (.509), Nicholls State (season-best .559), Coppin State (.500), Little Rock (.556) and Georgia Southern (.500) and a loss at Appalachian State (.527).
RICHARD REACHES COACHING MILESTONES –
With an 80-63 victory over Coppin State on Dec. 21, Keith Richard reached two coaching milestones by recording his 100th win at ULM and his 250th career win.
Richard Signs Contract Extension Through 2022-23 Season –
Ninth-year ULM men's head basketball coach Keith Richard has signed a contract extension through the 2022-23 season, according to an announcement made Interim Athletics Director Scott McDonald. Richard's contract extension was approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System last Tuesday (Feb. 5).
With seven games remaining in the 2018-19 regular season, ULM is 13-10 overall and currently tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference standings at 6-5. So, Richard has the Warhawks positioned to earn their fourth trip to postseason play in the last five years.
He ranks seventh among the Sun Belt's all-time leaders with 93 career conference victories.
Earlier this season, Richard reached two coaching milestones by recording both his 100th win at ULM and his 250th career win with an 80-63 victory over Coppin State on Dec. 21.
"With his outstanding leadership, work ethic and attention to detail, Keith Richard has brought stability to the ULM basketball program," McDonald said. "Continuity has been and will continue to be an important ingredient for the sustained success of our basketball program.
"Keith and his coaching staff have created a winning culture as well as a positive environment for his student-athletes to grow and develop both in the classroom and on the basketball court. It's obvious that he and his staff strive to build relationships that will last well beyond their experience on our campus."
WARHAWKS START 11-1 IN FANT-EWING COLISEUM –
ULM is 11-1 at home this season, including a 6-1 record in Sun Belt play, while averaging 84.4 points per game and shooting 47 percent (330-of-701) from the field including 40 percent (124-of-309) from behind the 3-point arc. In addition, the Warhawks have limited their opponents to 72.0 points per game while shooting at a 46-percent clip (317-of-696) from the floor, including 37 percent (93-of-250) on 3-pointers. ULM also has a turnover margin of +4.3 per game at home.
The Warhawks have frequently gotten off to quick starts at home, outscoring their opponents by 109 points in the first half, 477-368. In its 12 home games, ULM has trailed for just 48:21 out of a possible 480 minutes. The Warhawks trailed Troy for 10:46 in the first half before taking a 31-27 lead at the intermission. Despite leading for just 8:27, South Alabama ended ULM's nine-game home winning streak, 78-72, thanks to a 12-6 run over the final 2:07.
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (78): Michael Ertel 19, Daishon Smith 19, JD Williams 17, Travis Munnings 15, Jontray Harris 3, Brandon Newman 2, Andre Washington 2, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 77.
20-point games (23): Daishon Smith 11, Michael Ertel 6, Travis Munnings 4, JD Williams 2. Opponents: 16.
30-point games (4): Daishon Smith 3, Travis Munnings 1. Opponents: 2.
40-point games (1): Daishon Smith 1. Opponents: None.
Double-figure rebounding games (8): Travis Munnings 4, Andre Washington 3, Jontray Harris 1. Opponents: 11.
Double-doubles (2): Travis Munnings 2. Opponents: 11.
Games leading ULM in scoring: Daishon Smith 12, Travis Munnings 6, Michael Ertel 4, JD Williams 2.
Games leading ULM in rebounding: Travis Munnings 13, Andre Washington 7, JD Williams 3, Jontray Harris 1, Tyree White 1.
Games leading ULM in assists: Daishon Smith 13, Michael Ertel 6, Travis Munnings 5, Brandon Newman 4, Jontray Harris 2, JD Williams 2.
2018-19 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Different Starting Combinations (5):
Ertel, Smith, Williams, Munnings, Washington: 16 (11-5)
Ertel, Smith, Williams, Munnings, T. White: 3 (1-2)
Ertel, Harris, Williams, Munnings, T. White: 2 (0-2)
Ertel, Smith, Harris, Munnings, Washington: 1 (1-0)
Ertel, Harris, Williams, Munnings, Washington: 1 (0-1)
2018-19 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 11-1
Games played on the road: 2-9
Games played in November: 3-3
Games played in December: 4-2
Games played in January: 4-4
Games played in February: 2-1
When leading at halftime: 12-3
When trailing at halftime: 1-7
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 6-1
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 7-9
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 3-5
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 10-5
When outrebounding opponent: 8-4
When outrebounded by opponent: 4-6
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 11-5
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 1-3
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 1-2
When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 10-1
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 3-8
When turnover totals are equal: 0-1
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 4-4
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 5-2
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 4-0
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 3-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 5-1
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 3-4
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 1-4
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 1-1
Games decided by five points or less: 2-3
Games decided by 6-10 points: 5-3
Games decided by 11-19 points: 3-2
Games decided by 20 points or more: 3-2
Last five games: 2-3
Last 10 games: 5-5
Largest deficit overcome to win: 6 (3x) (12-6 vs. Georgia Southern, Feb. 8); (8-2 vs. Troy, Jan. 24); (6-0 vs. Little Rock, Jan. 3)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 14 (53-39 at Georgia Southern, Jan. 10)
