Game 22: GEORGIA STATE (16-6, 7-2 Sun Belt) vs. ULM (11-10, 4-5 Sun Belt)
Wednesday, Feb. 6 | 7 p.m.
Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
ULM Basketball Notes: Game 22 vs. Georgia State
Wednesday's Ticket Promotion: National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Girls and women 18 and under will receive a free general admission ticket to the Feb. 6 game against league-leading Georgia State.
Student-athletes, representing ULM's 10 women's intercollegiate sports, will be honored at halftime.
STORYLINE –
Looking to end a three-game losing streak, ULM (11-10, 4-5) opens the second half of the Sun Belt schedule against league-leading Georgia State (16-6, 7-2) on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7 p.m. tipoff). The Warhawks are 9-1 at home this season while averaging 84.3 points per game. GSU won this season's first meeting on a last-second layup, 74-73.
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (20.2 points per game; 63 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (15.6 ppg., 47 3-pointers), 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (13.4 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) and 6-4 guard JD Williams (12.9 ppg.).
THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in free-throw percentage (third at .784), 3-point field-goal percentage (14th at .395), 3-point field goals made (21st at 9.9 per game) and turnovers (39th at 11.4 per game).
The Warhawks lead the Sun Belt in 3-point field goals made per game and free-throw percentage. ULM also ranks among the league leaders in 3-point field-goal percentage (second), assist-to-turnover ratio (second at 1.2), scoring offense (fourth at 77.6 points per game), scoring margin (fourth at +4.0 ppg.), turnover margin (fifth at +1.3), scoring defense (sixth at 73.6 ppg.) and assists (sixth at 13.5 pg.).
• Three-point field goals have accounted for 38 percent of ULM's scoring (208 3-pointers made; 624 of 1,630 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have made double-digit 3-pointers in 11 games, including seven of their first nine Sun Belt games. ULM is averaging a league-best 11.1 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 17 of their first 21 games.
• 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 six opponents (Ole Miss .524, LSU .525, Little Rock .620, South Alabama .527, Coastal Carolina .529 and Appalachian State .564) have managed to shoot better than 50 percent from the field against ULM.
Through the first 21 games, ULM has outscored its opponents, 356-253, from the free-throw line.
• ULM has compiled an 11-7 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 (14th at 3.5 per game), free-throw percentage (17th at .889), 3-point field-goal percentage (31st at .432), steals (41st at 2.06 pg.) and scoring (44th at 20.2 points per game). He leads the Sun Belt in 3-point field goals made per game, 3-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. Smith also ranks among the league leaders in steals (third), scoring (fifth), assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth at 1.7), assists (seventh at 3.6 pg.), field-goal percentage (10th at .459) and minutes played (10th at 32.6 pg.).
The Jacksonville, Florida, native has scored in double figures in 17 games, including nine 20-point outings. Smith has scored in double figures in 14-straight games, averaging 21.0 points during that span. He is averaging 21.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 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: 1,472 points and 836 rebounds).
LOOSE BALLS –
Six of ULM's last seven games have been decided by six points or less (2-4 record). ... ULM has led at the half in 13 of its 21 games and outscored its opponents, 771-698, in the first half this season. ... The Warhawks have made 20 or more free throws in eight games. ULM has shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line in 11 of 21 games, including seven of its last 10 contests. … ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in fewest fouls committed (No. 21 at 333). The Warhawks have been whistled for fewer fouls than their opponents in 15 of 21 games. … ULM ranks second in the Sun Belt in both average home attendance (2,673 per game) and attendance for league home games (3,724 avg.).
THE LAST TIME OUT –
Appalachian State 85, ULM 84 (Feb. 2, 2019, in Boone, N.C.): Justin Forrest scored a season-high 32 points and Hunter Seacat blocked a potential game-winning lay-up attempt in the closing seconds as Appalachian State defeated ULM, 85-84, last Saturday. It marked the Mountaineers' third-straight Sun Belt Conference win.
There were eight ties and three lead changes in the first half. Michael Ertel scored seven consecutive points as ULM jumped out to an 11-3 lead on his 3-pointer from the left wing with 16:57 left in the opening half. Forrest accounted for 16 points during a 19-6 run as App State took a 22-17 lead with 12:47 remaining. The Warhawks answered with a 13-5 spurt and built a 30-27 lead on JD Williams' layup off a steal by Travis Munnings with 8:58 to play. ULM went scoreless for the final 2:47, while the Mountaineers scored the last six points of the half and took a 46-40 advantage to the locker room.
Forrest connected on 7-of-8 first-half field-goal attempts, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, to account for 22 of App State's 46 points. As a team, the Mountaineers shot 61 percent (17-of-28) from the floor, including 7-of-13 from behind the 3-point arc.
App State (8-14, 3-6 Sun Belt) opened the second half with a 7-0 run and built its largest lead at 53-40 on Ronshad Shabazz's 3 from the right wing with 18:17 on the clock. Williams buried a 3-pointer from the left wing to spark a 14-6 spurt, and ULM (11-10, 4-5) cut its deficit to five at 59-54 on his layup with 12:48 remaining. Trailing 64-57, the Warhawks put together an 8-0 run and regained the lead at 65-64 as Williams converted 1-of-2 free-throw attempts with 9:46 to play. There were five ties and four lead changes over the final 10 1/2 minutes. The Mountaineers outscored ULM, 10-4, over a 3:30 stretch and took an 83-77 lead on Tyrell Johnson's trey from the left corner with 2:50 left. Ertel finished a traditional 3-point play and Williams added two free throws as the Warhawks pulled to within one at 83-82 with 2:05 remaining. With App State leading 85-84, Seacat missed the front end of a one-and-one with 11.8 seconds and ULM's Andre Washington collected the rebound. In the closing seconds, Ertel drove the left side of the lane and his lay-up attempt was blocked by Seacat to preserve the one-point victory.
Forrest hit 11-of-18 shots from the floor, including 6-of-9 3s, to lead a well-balanced scoring attack. The Mountaineers also got 13 points from Isaac Johnson, 12 from Shabazz and 11 each from Adrian Delph and Tyrell Johnson.
For the game, App State shot 56 percent (31-of-55) from the field, including 14-of-26 from 3-point range.
Ertel and Williams combined for 49 points to pace the Warhawks. Ertel, who made 10-of-16 field-goal attempts including 3-of-6 3-pointers, finished with a career-high 26 points. Williams, who scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half, went 8-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-3 from behind the 3-point arc, and matched his career high with three steals.
Daishon Smith added 11 points for ULM.
The Warhawks also executed at a high level offensively, hitting 29-of-55 field-goal attempts (53 percent) including 10-of-21 3s (48 percent). ULM outrebounded App State, 31-23, and held a 13-4 advantage in second-chance points.
ULM remains winless (0-4) on the road in Sun Belt play, but three of those losses have been decided one point (79-78 at Georgia Southern, 74-73 at Georgia State and 85-84 at App State).
GEORGIA STATE SCOUTING REPORT –
Georgia State (16-6) sits atop the Sun Belt Conference standings at 7-2. The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games overall. GSU's 16-6 record matches the second-best 22-game start in program history.
The Panthers are seeking their third-straight Sun Belt regular-season title along with its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
Georgia State's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-3 guard D'Marcus Simonds (19.0 points per game), 6-4 guard Devin Mitchell (13.5 ppg.), 6-5 forward Jeff Thomas (12.0 ppg.), 6-6 forward Malik Benlevi (11.7 ppg., 5.6 rebounds per game). All four of those starters have made more than 35 3-pointers: Mitchell (55), Benlevi (48), Thomas (46) and Simonds (36). In addition, 6-3 guard Kane Williams, who started 19 of the first 20 games this season, is averaging 10.5 points and 3.7 assists off the bench.
Simonds, who was selected Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, ranks among the league's Top 10 in minutes played (second at 35.4 pg.), scoring (seventh), blocked shots (seventh at 1.0 pg.) and assists (tied for eighth at 3.5 pg.). He has scored in double figures in 20 games, including 12 20-point efforts. Simonds scored a game-high 29 points in last Saturday's 81-72 win over Georgia Southern. He ranks No. 18 among active NCAA Division I players with his 18.0 career scoring average (1,549 career points).
Benlevi is listed among the league leaders in four different statistical categories: blocked shots (fifth at 1.2 pg.), 3-point field goals made (ninth at 2.2 pg.), rebounding (16th at 5.6 rpg.) and minutes played (14th at 31.9 pg.). He has scored in double figures in 13 games, including four 20-point outings. Benlevi hit 8-of-13 field-goal attempts, including 5-of-8 3-pointers, in a 22-point performance at Texas State.
Mitchell, who missed the first seven games of the 2018-19 season with an injury, has netted double figures in 11 of his 15 games.
Thomas has produced double figures in 13 games, including four 20-point performances.
Williams is listed among the conference's Top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 2.0), steals (fourth at 2.0 pg.) and assists (sixth at 3.7 pg.).
GSU ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in turnover margin (first at +2.7 pg.), blocked shots (first at 5.0 pg.), 3-point field goals made (second at 9.7 pg.), field-goal percentage defense (third at .430), 3-point field-goal percentage (third at .388), steals (third at 7.8 pg.), scoring defense (fifth at 73.2 ppg.), scoring margin (fifth at +3.4 ppg.), field-goal percentage (fifth at .467), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (sixth at .334) and assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth at 1.0).
ULM/GEORGIA STATE SERIES NOTES –
Wednesday's game marks the 16th meeting between ULM and Georgia State. The Panthers lead the all-time series, 8-7, including a 3-4 record in games played in Monroe. Georgia State has won eight of the last 10 meetings.
THE LAST MEETING –
Georgia State 74, ULM 73 (Jan. 12, 2019, in Atlanta): D'Marcus Simonds scored a game-high 28 points, including the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left, to give Georgia State a 74-73 victory over ULM Saturday, Jan. 12 in the GSU Sports Arena.
ULM (9-7, 2-2 Sun Belt) staged a furious second-half comeback, outscoring GSU, 32-10, to erase a 21-point deficit and claimed a 73-72 lead on Daishon Smith's layup with 5.5 seconds left. Following a 30-second timeout, Simonds took a pass from Kane Williams and drove from the top of the 3-point arc all the way to the basket without a dribble, splitting two defenders, to score a controversial game-winning basket.
There were two ties and three lead changes in the first half.
ULM jumped out to a 10-7 lead on Tyree White's 12-foot jumper from the left baseline with 16:08 left in the opening half. The Panthers scored six-straight points and took a 13-10 lead on Simonds' 3-pointer from the top of the circle. GSU put together an 11-3 run midway through the first half to build a 12-point lead at 33-21 on Devin Mitchell's deep 3 from the right wing with 4:55 remaining. The Panthers took a 39-28 lead to the locker room, thanks to Malik Benlevi's tip-in with one second left in the first half.
The Warhawks shot a dismal 24 percent (7-of-29) from the field in the first half, including just 3-of-20 from 3-point range (15 percent).
Simonds netted 14 first-half points for GSU, hitting 6-of-11 shots from the floor, including 2-of-5 3-pointers.
Early in the second half, GSU outscored ULM, 17-5, over a stretch of 4:21 to build its largest lead at 62-41 on Mitchell's trey from the left corner with 12:21 to play. Michael Ertel's 3-pointer from the top of the circle sparked a 12-0 run as the Warhawks pulled to within eight at 64-56 on two free throws by JD Williams with 7:48 left. Trailing 72-60, a conventional three-point play from Travis Munnings fueled a 13-0 spurt and ULM regained the lead at 73-72 on a nifty feed from Ertel to Smith for a layup with 5.5 seconds on the clock.
ULM made 15-of-28 second-half field-goal attempts (54 percent), including 5-of-11 3-pointers (46 percent). The Warhawks outrebounded GSU, 23-13, in the second half and finished with a +12 rebound margin at 44-32.
Williams and Ertel combined for 37 points as four Warhawks posted double figures. Williams scored a team-high 19 points, with 12 coming in the second half. Ertel, who made 5-of-6 second-half field-goal attempts including 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc, netted 15 second-half points and finished with 18. Munnings recorded his first double-double of the season and 14th of his career with 11 points and 13 rebounds (four offensive boards). Smith contributed 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Georgia State (13-4, 4-0) also got 16 points from Mitchell, who shot 6-of-13 from the floor including 4-of-10 from 3-point distance.
WARHAWKS START 9-1 IN FANT-EWING COLISEUM –
ULM is 9-1 at home this season, averaging 84.3 points per game while shooting 47 percent (275-of-585) from the field including 40 percent (106-of-266) from behind the 3-point arc. In addition, the Warhawks have limited their opponents to 70.9 points per game while shooting at a 44-percent clip (258-of-581) from the floor, including 35 percent (74-of-209) on 3-pointers. ULM also has a turnover margin of +4.8 per game at home.
The Warhawks have frequently gotten off to quick starts at home, outscoring their opponents by 100 points in the first half, 398-298. In its 10 home games, ULM has trailed for 31:31 out of a possible 400 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.
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: 1,472 points and 836 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 (208 3-pointers made; 624 of 1,630 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have made double-digit 3-pointers in 11 games, including seven of their first nine Sun Belt games. ULM is averaging a league-best 11.1 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 17 of their first 21 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 14-2 in its last 16 games when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, with its only losses coming at Appalachian State (.527) last Saturday and against Arkansas State (.509) in the 2017-18 regular-season finale. The Warhawks are 5-1 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) and Little Rock (.556) 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.
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (70): Michael Ertel 17, Daishon Smith 17, JD Williams 15, Travis Munnings 13, Jontray Harris 3, Brandon Newman 2, Andre Washington 2, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 70.
20-point games (21): Daishon Smith 9, Michael Ertel 6, Travis Munnings 4, JD Williams 2. Opponents: 14.
30-point games (2): Travis Munnings 1, Daishon Smith 1. Opponents: 2.
40-point games (1): Daishon Smith 1. Opponents: None.
Double-figure rebounding games (7): Travis Munnings 3, Andre Washington 3, Jontray Harris 1. Opponents: 11.
Double-doubles (1): Travis Munnings 1. Opponents: 10.
Games leading ULM in scoring: Daishon Smith 10, Travis Munnings 6, Michael Ertel 4, JD Williams 2.
Games leading ULM in rebounding: Travis Munnings 11, Andre Washington 7, JD Williams 3, Jontray Harris 1, Tyree White 1.
Games leading ULM in assists: Daishon Smith 11, 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: 14 (9-5)
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: 9-1
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: 0-1
When leading at halftime: 10-3
When trailing at halftime: 1-7
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 5-1
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 5-9
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 2-5
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 8-5
When outrebounding opponent: 6-4
When outrebounded by opponent: 4-6
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 9-5
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: 9-1
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 2-8
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: 3-2
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: 1-4
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: 3-3
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: 4-6
Largest deficit overcome to win: 6 (2x) (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)
