Game 12: Troy (5-8, 1-1 Sun Belt) vs. ULM (4-7, 0-2 Sun Belt)
Thursday, Jan. 2 | 7 p.m.
Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
ULM Basketball Notes: Game 12 vs. Troy
TONIGHT'S TICKET PROMOTION: $5 GENERAL ADMISSION SEATS
All general admission tickets are $5 – half off the regular single-game price – for ULM's Jan. 2 Sun Belt Conference game against Troy.
Click here to order your tickets online.
STORYLINE –
ULM (4-7, 0-2) resumes Sun Belt Conference play against Troy (5-8, 1-1) on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks dropped their first two league games at home by a combined total of four points (73-72 vs. Little Rock and 62-59 vs. Arkansas State). Overall, ULM has lost its last five games in a row – its longest losing streak since the 2016-17 season.
The Warhawks rank 12th in the Sun Belt in scoring offense, averaging 62.6 points per game. ULM has scored 70 or more points in four games. By comparison, the Warhawks scored 70 or more points in 29 of 35 games last season.
ULM will employ its sixth different starting lineup of the season Thursday night against Troy.
THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM's starting backcourt of Michael Ertel and JD Williams has combined to average 30.6 points per game. The tandem has combined to account for 49 percent (337 of 689 points) of the team's scoring through the first 11 games. Ertel (sixth at 15.6 points per game) and Williams (tied for ninth at 15.0 ppg.) both rank among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 10 in scoring.
Ertel also listed among the league's Top 10 in two additional statistical categories: second in minutes played (37.0 pg.) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.778). His 37.0 minutes per game rank No. 17 among NCAA Division I players. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native has scored in double figures in 17 of his last 18 games (dating back to last season). Ertel's was limited to a season-low five points (2-of-17 FG shooting including 0-of-4 3-pointers) at No. 12 Butler – his lowest scoring total since March 2, 2019, against Coastal Carolina (5 points).
Williams also ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 20 in minutes played (third at 36.5 mpg.), field-goal percentage (ninth at .409), steals (ninth at 1.5 spg.) and rebounding (15th at 5.7 rpg.).
• Sophomore guard Jalen Hodge has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games (79 points), averaging 11.3 points during that stretch. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hodge has made 26 of his last 49 field-goal attempts (.531), including 13-of-21 (.619) 3-pointers, during the seven-game streak. He was held scoreless for just the second time this season at No. 12 Butler (0-of-6 FG shooting).
Hodge netted 10 points each in back-to-back Sun Belt Conference games against Little Rock (4-of-5 FG shooting including 1-of-2 3-pointers) and Arkansas State (4-of-6 FG shooting). He scored 17 points in his first career start at SFA last Saturday, connecting on 4-of-5 3-pointers and all five of his three-throw attempts. Hodge connected on 7-of-11 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 3-pointers, and finished with a career-high 22 points against Grambling State (netted 13 first-half points). The O'Fallon, Illinois, native scored in double figures for the first time in his ULM career against Northwestern State, posting 12 points (4-of-8 FG shooting including 3-of-6 3-pointers).
• Five of ULM's seven losses have come by a combined total of 22 points. The Warhawks led in the second half in each of those five losses (at Texas A&M, vs. Grambling State, at SFA, vs. Little Rock and vs. Arkansas State). ULM's five-game losing streak is the program's longest since an eight-game skid during the 2016-17 season.
• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in scoring defense (third at 64.0 points per game), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (third at .315), 3-point field-goal percentage (fourth at .346), rebound margin (sixth at +0.2 pg.) and blocked shots (sixth at 3.4 per game).
• Through 11 games, ULM has allowed only one opposing player to score 20 or more points. Little Rock's Markquis Nowell (11-of-21 field-goal shooting including 8-of-14 3-pointers) scored a career-high 33 points in the Sun Belt Conference opener, including the game-winning 3-pointer from 40-feet out with :03 left. By comparison, the Warhawks have posted seven 20-point games (4 by Michael Ertel, 2 by JD Williams and 1 by Jalen Hodge).
TROY SCOUTING REPORT –
Troy (5-8 overall, 1-1 Sun Belt) earned a home-court split during the opening week of Sun Belt Conference play with a 77-59 win over Coastal Carolina followed by a 70-65 loss to Appalachian State. Under first-year head coach Scott Cross, the Trojans have won four of their last six games overall.
ULM and Troy had one common non-conference opponent in Texas A&M. The Warhawks (63-57) and Trojans (56-52) each dropped nail-biters in College Station, Texas.
Troy is 1-5 in road games and 1-6 when scoring 69 or fewer points in 2019-20.
The Trojans' playing rotation features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-4 guard Darian Adams (13.3 points per game, 46 assists), 6-9 forward Zay Williams (12.2 ppg., 6.3 rebounds pg.), 6-1 guard Desmond Williams (10.3 ppg.) and 6-0 guard Ty Gordon (10.1 ppg., 23 3-pointers).
Adams ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in five different stat categories: tied for fifth in 3-point field goals made (2.4 pg.), sixth in assists (3.5 pg.), eighth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.341), ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) and 20th in scoring. He has scored in double figures in 10 games, including the last four in a row. Adams netted a career-high 20 points at Texas A&M (4-of-11 3-pointers).
Zay Williams leads the Trojans in rebounding and ranks second in scoring. He is listed among the league's Top 10 in offensive rebounds (fourth at 2.5 pg.) and rebounding (ninth). Williams has posted double figures in scoring in nine games, including the last five straight. He recorded his first double-double at Chattanooga (12 points and 10 rebounds) and scored a career-best 28 points at Indiana (11-of-19 FG shooting).
Troy ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in offensive rebounds (second at 13.9 pg.), assists (second at 14.8 apg.), rebound margin (fourth at +0.5 rpg.), assist-to-turnover radio (fourth at 1.0), 3-point field goals made (fifth at 7.8 pg.), field-goal percentage defense (fifth at .410), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (fifth at .322), turnover margin (fifth at +2.2 pg.) and scoring defense (sixth at 69.2 ppg.).
ULM/TROY SERIES NOTES –
Thursday's game marks the 21st meeting between ULM and Troy. The Trojans lead the all-time series, 11-9, including a 3-8 record in games played in Monroe. The Warhawks have won six of the
last eight meetings overall. Each of the last four meetings have been decided by six points or less.
In 2018-19, ULM won the only regular-season meeting, 75-69, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Jan. 24, 2019.
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 75, Troy 69 (Jan. 24, 2019, in Monroe, La.): Travis Munnings and Michael Ertel scored 16 points each and Daishon Smith added 15 as ULM outlasted Troy, 75-69, to remain unbeaten (9-0) in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The last four meetings in this series have been decided by six points or less.
There were four ties and three lead changes in the first half. Troy jumped out to an 8-2 lead on Javan Johnson's layup with 15:16 left in the opening half. The Warhawks pulled even at 13-13 on back-to-back layups from Smith. Ertel's left-handed layup high off the glass over Jordon Varnado gave ULM its first lead at 20-19 with 6:10 to play. The Warhawks outscored the Trojans, 7-3, over the final 2:37 of the first half, and Smith's 3-pointer from the left corner with 0.4 seconds left gave ULM a 31-27 lead at the intermission.
ULM shot 39 percent (12-of-31) from the field in the first half, including just 1-of-11 from behind the 3-point arc. The Warhawks converted Troy's 10 first-half turnovers into 13 points and outscored the Trojans, 6-0, from the free-throw line.
Troy led for 10:46 in the first half. In its eight previous home games, ULM had trailed for only 12:18 out of a possible 320 minutes.
ULM (11-7, 4-2 Sun Belt) built its largest lead at 42-32 on Munnings' 3-pointer from the left wing with 15:14 remaining in the second half. Johnson's rebound goal sparked a 13-3 run and Troy (10-9, 3-4) tied the score at 45-45 on BJ Miller's layup with 11:33 left on the clock. The Warhawks took the lead for good at 47-45 on Ertel's pull-up jumper from the left elbow with 11:03 left. Ahead 51-50, ULM put together an 8-2 run to take a 59-52 lead on Ertel's 3 from the left wing with 5:53 to play. Troy managed to cut its deficit to three points three times in the last five minutes but failed to close the margin any further. The Warhawks iced the game at the free-throw line, as Ertel and Smith each converted both ends of the one-and-one in the final 12 seconds.
ULM hit 15-of-31 field-goal attempts (48 percent) in the second half, including 5-of-11 3-pointers (45 percent). For the game, the Warhawks outrebounded the Trojans, 34-32.
Munnings netted 14 of his 16 points in the second half, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the floor including 2-of-3 3s. Ertel tallied 12 of his 16 points after the intermission, connecting on 2-of-4 3-pointers.
Tyree White and Jontray Harris combined for 16 points as ULM's bench outscored Troy's reserves, 16-6. White finished with nine points, three offensive rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 17 minutes while Harris contributed seven points and two assists in 13 minutes.
Varnado scored a game-high 29 points to pace the Trojans, connected on 12-of-19 shots from the field including 2-of-4 3-pointers. Troy also got 14 points from Alex Hicks and 12 from Johnson.
THE LAST TIME OUT –
No. 12 Butler 67, ULM 36 (Dec. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis, Ind.): Derrik Smits came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points to lead No. 12 Butler to a 67-36 victory over ULM Saturday in Hinkle Fieldhouse, as the Bulldogs extended the nation's longest non-conference home winning streak to 58 games.
Butler (12-1) limited ULM to 23-percent field-goal shooting (14 of 60), including 19 percent from 3-point range (3 of 16). It marked ULM's lowest point total since a 61-36 home-court loss to Texas State on Jan. 11, 2014. The Bulldogs held ULM's starting backcourt of Michael Ertel and JD Williams, which came into Saturday's game averaging a combined 32.7 points, to just 10 total points on 4-of-27 shooting, including 1-of-8 from behind the 3-point arc.
Sean McDermott scored seven of his team's first nine points as Butler jumped out to a 9-5 lead. ULM pulled to within 9-7 when Ertel drove the left side of the lane for a layup with 14:28 remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs answered with a 9-2 run to take an 18-9 lead on two free throws from Smits with 10:06 to play in the opening half. Butler outscored the Warhawks, 15-5, over the next 10 minutes to build a commanding 33-14 halftime advantage. ULM managed one field goal – a 3-pointer by Josh Nicholas from the left corner – and two free throws over the last 9:10 of the first half.
Smits and McDermott (10 points each) combined for 20 first-half points to pace the Bulldogs. ULM hit 5-of-28 field-goal attempts (18 percent) in the first 20 minutes, including just 2-of-11 3-pointers.
Butler opened the second half with a 17-6 spurt and opened up a 50-20 lead as Smits finished a fast break with a layup with 10:58 left. The Bulldogs built their largest lead at 67-32 on Henry Baddley's 3-pointer from the top of the circle with 1:14 on the clock.
Smits, who hit 5-of-7 shots from the floor and 6-of-7 attempts from the free-throw line, finished with 16 points in 12-plus minutes. Butler also got 10 points each from McDermott and Bryce Nze.
The Bulldogs shot 46 percent (27 of 59) from the field, including 50 percent (14 of 28) in the second half. Butler outscored the Warhawks, 34-14, in the paint and converted ULM's 11 turnovers into 16 points.
Nicholas, who came off the ULM bench to score a season-high 12 points, connected on 4-of-8 field-goal attempts including 2-of-4 3-pointers.
Saturday's game marked a homecoming for Ertel, an Indianapolis native who grew up 12 miles from Hinkle Fieldhouse.
WARHAWKS TOUGH ON HOMECOURT –
ULM is 30-10 (.750) in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum since 2017-18, including an 18-6 record (.750) in its last 24 home games. The Warhawks went 14-3 at home in 2018-19, including a 7-2 record in league games. 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.
ULM RECORDS 1,000TH WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY –
With its 73-72 overtime win over Alcorn State Saturday, 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 12th-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.
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (29): Michael Ertel 10, JD Williams 9, Jalen Hodge 5, Tyree White 2, Youry White 1, Chris Efretuei 1, Josh Nicholas 1. Opponents: 28.
20-point games (7): Michael Ertel 4, JD Williams 2, Jalen Hodge. Opponents: 1.
30-point games (0): None. Opponents: 1.
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 4, Michael Ertel 3, Jalen Hodge 2, Tyree White 1, Josh Nicholas 1.
Games leading ULM in rebounding: JD Williams 3, D'Andre Bernard 2, Chris Efretuei 2, Youry White 2, Tyree White 1, Michael Ertel 1, Jalen Hodge 1.
Games leading ULM in assists: Michael Ertel 6, JD Williams 5, Tyree White 3, Jalen Hodge 2, 1 Erie Olonade 1, D'Andre Bernard 1, Elijah Ifejeh 1, Youry White 1.
2019-20 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Nov. 5 vs. Louisiana College: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Nov. 9 vs. Alcorn State: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Nov. 11 at Texas A&M: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Nov. 26 vs. Northwestern State:Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Dec. 4 vs. Millsaps College: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei
Dec. 10 vs. Grambling State: Ertel, Williams, T. White, Bernard, Efretuei
Dec. 14 at SFA: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, Nicholas, Efretuei
Dec. 19 vs. Little Rock: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Bernard
Dec. 21 vs. Arkansas State: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Bernard
Dec. 28 at No. 12 Butler: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Efretuei
Different Starting Combinations (5):
Ertel, Williams, T. White, Y. White, Efretuei: 6 (4-2)
Ertel, Williams, T. White, Bernard, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
Ertel, Williams, Hodge, Nicholas, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Bernard: 2 (0-2)
Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
2019-20 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 4-3
Games played on the road: 0-4
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0
Games played in November: 3-2
Games played in December: 1-5
Games played in January: 0-0
Games played in February: 0-0
Games played in March: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 4-3
When trailing at halftime: 0-3
When tied at halftime: 0-1
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 1-1
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 3-6
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-0
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 4-7
When outrebounding opponent: 1-2
When outrebounded by opponent: 2-5
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 4-2
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 0-5
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: 2-7
When turnover totals are equal: 1-0
When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-3
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 1-1
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 2-1
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: 2-6
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 1-1
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 0-0
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-0
Games decided by five points or less: 1-3
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-2
Games decided by 11-19 points: 0-1
Games decided by 20 points or more: 2-1
Last five games: 0-5
Last 10 games: 3-7
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; 62-52 vs. Little Rock, Dec. 19)
ULM Basketball Inks Four in Early Signing Period –
The ULM men's basketball team signed four high school athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period in November, featuring three athletes from the state of Louisiana.
"This is the first time in many years we have been able to sign four quality high school players in the early signing period," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "We think each one of these young men are great prospects for ULM both on and off the floor. All four play different positions and all four of them can score. We are excited about all of their futures in a Warhawk uniform."
D'Marcus Hall | 6-6 | Forward | Shreveport, Louisiana | Calvary Baptist HS
Hall averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game as a junior at Calvary Baptist. He was named 2019 District 1-2A Player of the Year following the 2018-19 season, and was a 2019 Louisiana Sportswriters' Association All-State honorable mention selection. He is a second team All-City selection in Shreveport. Hall is rated as the 12th-best player in Louisiana by Prep Hoops Louisiana.
Thomas Howell | 6-8 | Forward | Natchitoches, Louisiana | St. Mary's HS
Howell was a first team All-State selection following his junior year at St. Mary's, where he averaged 22 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks per game. Howell was named the 2019 All-CENLA Player of the Year. As a sophomore in 2017-18, Howell was named All-State after he posted 20 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game at St. Mary's. Howell owns the St. Mary's career blocks record with 301 and counting, and is on pace to break the career scoring and rebounding records. Howell is rated as the fifth-best player in Louisiana by Prep Hoops Louisiana.
Zaakir Sawyer | 6-4 | Guard | Mesquite, Texas | Horn HS
Sawyer posted 18.5 points, 7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game as a junior at Horn High School. He is a three-time first team All-Conference selection. Sawyer is the 29th-ranked player in Texas by Texas Basketball Review and 31st by Rivals.com.
Elijah Tate | 6-3 | Guard | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Madison Prep HS
Tate is a three-time state champion at Madison Prep, leading his team to a 33-7 record as a junior. Tate averaged 12.5 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a junior in 2018-19, including a 17-point effort to pace Madison Prep in the 2019 LHSAA State Championship game vs. Wossman. He was named first team All-District 6-3A as a junior. Tate is the 13th-ranked player in Louisiana by Prep Hoops Louisiana.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS –
Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO)
Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. South Alabama (2 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 Jan. 4 Sun Belt Conference game against South Alabama.
$5 General Admission
Thursday, Jan. 16 vs. Texas State (7 p.m. tipoff)
All general admission tickets are $5 – half off the regular single-game price – for ULM's Jan. 16 Sun Belt Conference game against Texas State.
Youth Day
Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. UT Arlington (2 p.m. tipoff)
Youth 18 and under will receive a free general admission ticket to the Jan. 18 Sun Belt Conference game against UT Arlington. Following the game, children 12 and under will be permitted on the court to shoot baskets for 20 minutes.
