Game 31: APP STATE (11-20, 6-12 Sun Belt) vs. ULM (16-14, 9-9 Sun Belt)
Sun Belt Championship First Round | Tuesday, March 12 | 7 p.m.
Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
ULM Basketball Notes: Game 31 vs. Appalachian State
STORYLINE –
No. 7-seed ULM (16-14, 9-9) earns a first-round match-up against No. 10-seed Appalachian State (11-20, 6-12) in the Sun Belt Championship on Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. The Warhawks and Mountaineers split the regular-season series, with home team both games. ULM is 12-2 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum this season while averaging 84.6 points per game.
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (22.0 points per game; 96 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (15.1 ppg., 66 3-pointers), 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (14.3 ppg., 7.6 rpg.) and 6-4 guard JD Williams (12.6 ppg.).
THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in free-throw percentage (sixth at .776), 3-point field-goal percentage (15th at .389) and 3-point field goals made (24th at 9.8 per game).
The Warhawks lead the Sun Belt in free-throw percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). ULM also ranks among the league leaders in 3-point field goals made per game (second), 3-point field-goal percentage (second), scoring offense (fourth at 78.3 points per game), scoring margin (fifth at +3.6 ppg.), assists (fifth at 13.6 pg.), turnover margin (fifth at +1.1) and scoring defense (sixth at 74.7 ppg.).
ULM's 78.3 scoring average is the program's highest in 19 years (since averaging 78.4 ppg. in 1999-2000).
• Three-point field goals have accounted for 37 percent of ULM's scoring (293 3-pointers made; 879 of 2,348 points) in 2018-19. The Warhawks have made double-digit 3-pointers in 14 games, including 10 of their 18 Sun Belt regular-season games. ULM averaged 10.3 3-pointers per game in Sun Belt play.
With nine 3s in the regular-season finale at Little Rock, the Warhawks set the school single-season record with 293 3-pointers made (previous record: 288 made in 2017-18).
ULM tied the school single-game record with 17 3s in the in the regular-season home finale against Coastal Carolina as well as the 2019 conference opener against Little Rock. (The Warhawks 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 25 of their 30 games.
• Daishon Smith, an All-Sun Belt First-Team selection and conference Newcomer of the Year, is the only player in NCAA Division I who is averaging at least 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season (research: Sports Reference CBB). Smith ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in 3-point field goals made (eighth at 3.56 per game), scoring (19th at 22.0 points per game), steals (22nd at 2.22 pg.), free-throw percentage (35th at .861) and 3-point field-goal percentage (49th at .405).
He leads the Sun Belt in three different statistical categories: 3-point field goals made per game, free-throw percentage and steals. Smith also ranks among the league leaders in scoring (second), 3-point field-goal percentage (second), assists (fifth at 3.9 pg.), assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth at 1.8), field-goal percentage (seventh at .453) and minutes played (seventh at 34.4 pg.).
The Jacksonville, Florida, native has scored in double figures in 25 games, including 16 20-point outings. His streak of 17-straight double-figure scoring games ended in ULM's win at Texas State (averaged 23.1 points during that span). Smith is averaging 23.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in Sun Belt play.
ULM has compiled a 16-11 record with Smith in the starting lineup (sidelined for three games with a hamstring injury; DNP in road games at Texas, Michigan State and Tennessee Tech).
• All-Sun Belt Third-Team selection Michael Ertel ranks second on the team in scoring (15.1 points per game), 3-point field goals made (66) and assists (80). The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard has scored in double figures in 25 games, including eight 20-point efforts. His 911 free-throw percentage (72-of-79) leads the team. Ertel also ranks among the conference leaders in minutes played (third at 35.8 per game), 3-point field goals made (eighth at 2.2 pg.), scoring (13th) and field-goal percentage (13th at .428).
• 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: 1,620 points and 909 rebounds).
With his double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds) at Arkansas State last Thursday, Munnings became just the 11th player in Sun Belt history to eclipse the 900-rebound career milestone (902).
LOOSE BALLS –
Thirteen of ULM's last 16 games have been decided by seven points or less (5-8 record). ... ULM has led at the half in 18 of its 30 games and outscored its opponents, 1,097-1,018, in the first half this season. ... The Warhawks have made 20 or more free throws in 12 games. ULM has shot better 80 percent or better from the free-throw line in 15 of 30 games, including 11 of its last 19 contests. … ULM has outrebounded 11 of its last 17 opponents, and its +10 rebound margin in the regular-season finale at Little Rock (39-29) and home-court victory over Georgia State (37-27) tied its second-largest edge of the season. ... ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in fewest fouls committed (20th at 470). The Warhawks have been whistled for fewer fouls than their opponents in 20 of 30 games. … ULM is 10-1 this season when limiting its opponents to 69 points or less. The Warhawks have held five opponents to a field-goal percentage below 39 percent. ... The Warhawks also have made nearly as many free throws (503) as their opponents have attempted (516) this season. Through 30 games, ULM has outscored its opponents, 503-365, from the free-throw line. ... Only one of ULM's first 11 opponents managed for shoot 50 percent or better from the field (Ole Miss .524); however, the Warhawks have struggled on the defensive end of the floor during the second half of the season. Nine of ULM's last 19 opponents have shot 50 percent or better from the floor, including six of the last 12 Sun Belt foes. ... ULM ranks third in the Sun Belt in overall average home attendance (2,895 per game) and third in attendance for league home games (3,602 per game).
ULM/SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY –
ULM is making its 13th appearance in Sun Belt Tournament history. The Warhawks are 6-11 all-time (.353) in the conference's postseason tournament, including two trips to the semifinals (2015 and 2016) and one championship game appearance (2016).
APPALACHIAN STATE SCOUTING REPORT –
Appalachian State (11-20 overall, 6-12 Sun Belt) won two out of its last three regular-season, including a 90-80 victory at the Ragin' Cajuns and a 72-64 home-court win over Troy. Eight of the Mountaineers' league losses came by a combined total of 31 points. Overall, App State has lost 12 games by eight points or less.
The Mountaineers are 2-12 in true road games this season.
App State's starting lineup features three double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-5 guard Ronshad Shabazz (18.5 ppg., 78 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Justin Forrest (15.7 ppg., 61 3-pointers) and 6-9 forward Isaac Johnson (10.3 ppg., 8.8 rpg.).
Shabazz ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in 3-point field goals made (fourth at 2.5 pg.), 3-point field-goal percentage (fourth at .382), free-throw percentage (fourth at .808), scoring (sixth at 18.5 ppg.) and field-goal percentage (10th at .442). He has produced 15 20-point games this season, including a career-high 47 at ULM (17-of-30 FG shooting including 10-of-17 3-pointers). Shabazz ranks as the second-leading scorer in App State history with 2,056 career points.
Forest has scored in double figures in 23 games, including 13 of his last 15 outings. He hit 11-of-18 field-goal attempts, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, in this season's first meeting against ULM and finished with a season-high 32 points.
Johnson, who leads the Sun Belt in rebounding, has recorded eight double-doubles this season. He posted 12 points and 12 rebounds at ULM.
As a team, App State ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in scoring offense (third at 79.9 ppg.), 3-point field goals made (third at 9.0 pg.), 3-point field-goal percentage (fifth at .357), field-goal percentage (sixth at .453), offensive rebounds (sixth at 9.8 pg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth at +1.0 pg.).
ULM/APP STATE SERIES NOTES –
Tuesday's Sun Belt Championship first-round game marks just the ninth meeting between ULM and Appalachian State. The Warhawks lead the all-time series, 5-3, including a 3-1 record in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. ULM won four of the first five meetings in the series, but App State has won two of the last three match-ups. The last three games have been decided by six points or less.
THE REGULAR-SEASON RECAPS –
ULM 81, Appalachian State (Feb. 28, 2019, in Monroe, La.): ULM might have had an easy night of it if not for Ronshad Shabazz.
Although ULM never found an answer to Shabazz's incredible shooting display on Thursday night, the Warhawks were able to deliver an 81-75 win over Appalachian State at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Warhawks (15-12, 8-7 in the Sun Belt Conference) survived a 47-point onslaught by Shabazz, whose shooting single-handedly kept the Mountaineers (9-19, 4-11) in the game until the final minutes.
Shabazz made it a 70-68 ULM lead with his ninth 3-pointer with 2:26 to go. But ULM would pull away, making 8-of-9 free throws down the stretch.
Daishon Smith scored 26 points to lead four ULM players in double figures. Michael Ertel scored 22 points, Travis Munnings had 16 and JD Williams finished with 12. ULM shot 51 percent overall and 58 percent on 3-pointers.
Shabazz, made 10-of-17 3-pointers and was 17-of-30 from the floor.
ULM took a 37-33 lead into halftime after leading by as many as 16 in the first half. The Mountaineers hit their final 9-of-11 field goal attempts and ULM was scoreless over the last 2:59 of the half.
App State came out cold, missing its first five shots from the floor and was 1-of-9 as ULM built a 12-2 lead to open the game.
Ertel nailed his first three 3-pointers and had nine of ULM's first 15 points.
Munnings made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions as ULM grew its lead to 23-10 with 7:53 left in the half. A tomahawk dunk by Williams and Smith's 3-pointer got it to 28-12 at 6:25. The 16-point lead was the largest of the half.
Shabazz kept the Mountaineers within striking distance as he scored 24 of their first 33 points. The left-hander's 3-pointer and free throw on Smith's foul with 1:59 left shaved the lead to 34-30. His next 3-pointer made it 36-33 with 55 seconds to go in the half.
App State got as close as two points, 38-36, early in the second half, but ULM would cling to its lead until Shabazz got going again.
Shabazz was quiet until hitting a 3-pointer 10:30 to go in the game. His next bucket, another 3-pointer, made it 56-54 at the 9:46 mark. He tied the game at 59-59 with another 3-ball with 7:46 left.
With 6:40 to play, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the game at 62-61 on a 3-point play by Isaac Johnson. Johnson, with 12 points, was the only other player to reach double figures for App State.
ULM made its next three field goals, including a 3-point play on a drive by Smith, to go back ahead 68-63.
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.
WARHAWKS FINISHES REGULAR SEASON 12-2 IN FANT-EWING COLISEUM –
ULM went 12-2 at home during the regular season, including a 7-2 record in Sun Belt play, while averaging 84.6 points per game and shooting 48 percent (388-of-811) from the field including 42 percent (152-of-361) from behind the 3-point arc. In addition, the Warhawks limited their opponents to 74.0 points per game while shooting at a 46-percent clip (381-of-823) from the floor, including 38 percent (113-of-301) on 3-pointers. ULM also had a turnover margin of +3.9 per game at home.
The Warhawks frequently got off to quick starts at home, outscoring their opponents by 109 points in the first half, 555-446. In its 14 home games, ULM trailed for just 81:55 out of a possible 560 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. Coastal Carolina led for nearly 33 minutes (32:47) while pulling off the upset in ULM's regular-season home finale, 97-91.
ULM TOUGH TO BEAT WHEN SHOOTING 50 PERCENT OR BETTER FROM THE FIELD –
ULM is 16-3 in its last 19 games when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, with its only losses coming in the 2018-19 regular-season home finale against Coastal Carolina (.542), at Appalachian State (.527) and against Arkansas State (.509) in the 2017-18 regular-season finale. The Warhawks are 7-2 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), Georgia Southern (.500) and Appalachian State (.510) and losses at Appalachian State (.527) and against Coastal Carolina (.542).
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 (106): Michael Ertel 25, Daishon Smith 25, JD Williams 23, Travis Munnings 22, Andre Washington 3, Tyree White 3 Jontray Harris 3, Brandon Newman 2. Opponents: 97.
20-point games (32): Daishon Smith 16, Michael Ertel 8, Travis Munnings 6, JD Williams 2. Opponents: 25.
30-point games (5): Daishon Smith 4, Travis Munnings 1. Opponents: 5.
40-point games (1): Daishon Smith 1. Opponents: 1.
Double-figure rebounding games (11): Travis Munnings 6, Andre Washington 3, Daishon Smith 1, Jontray Harris 1. Opponents: 15.
Double-doubles (5): Travis Munnings 4, Daishon Smith 1. Opponents: 14.
Games leading ULM in scoring: Daishon Smith 17, Travis Munnings 8, Michael Ertel 5, JD Williams 2.
Games leading ULM in rebounding: Travis Munnings 18, Andre Washington 8, JD Williams 3, Daishon Smith 3, Jontray Harris 1, Andre Washington 1, Tyree White 1.
Games leading ULM in assists: Daishon Smith 16, Michael Ertel 8, Travis Munnings 6, Brandon Newman 4, JD Williams 4, Jontray Harris 2.
2018-19 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Different Starting Combinations (6):
Ertel, Smith, Williams, Munnings, Washington: 17 (11-6)
Ertel, Smith, Williams, Munnings, Y. White: 5 (3-2)
Ertel, Smith, Williams, Munnings, T. White: 4 (1-3)
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: 12-2
Games played on the road: 4-12
Games played in November: 3-3
Games played in December: 4-2
Games played in January: 4-4
Games played in February: 4-3
Games played in March: 1-2
When leading at halftime: 15-3
When trailing at halftime: 1-11
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 7-2
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 9-12
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 3-7
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 13-7
When outrebounding opponent: 9-5
When outrebounded by opponent: 6-8
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-1
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 13-7
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 2-5
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 1-2
When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 12-2
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 4-10
When turnover totals are equal: 0-2
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 1-2
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 5-6
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 6-3
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 4-1
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 3-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 7-1
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 4-5
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 1-5
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 1-3
Games decided by five points or less: 3-5
Games decided by 6-10 points: 6-5
Games decided by 11-19 points: 4-2
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)
