Russell Harrison jumper vs. Grambling State 2020
Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services
78
Winner Grambling GSU 2-3,0-0 SWAC
61
La.-Monroe ULM 2-3,0-0 Sun Belt
Winner
Grambling GSU
2-3,0-0 SWAC
78
Final
61
La.-Monroe ULM
2-3,0-0 Sun Belt
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Grambling GSU 40 38 78
La.-Monroe ULM 27 34 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Cold-Shooting ULM Falls to Grambling, 78-61

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

MONROE, La. – The chill in the air at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Wednesday night had nothing to do with the mid-December temperature outside.

Shots weren't falling for ULM as the Warhawks dropped a 78-61 decision to Grambling State.

"I thought Grambling outplayed us on both ends of the court," ULM coach Keith Richard said. "In particular in the first half, I thought their length bothered us around the rim. We missed a lot of shots around the rim. We needed those buckets to go in."

The Warhawks (2-3) shot 30 percent from the field (19-of-63) after opening the game 2-for-18 and never recovered. Russell Harrison with 13 points and Marco Morency with 11 were the only ULM players to reach double figures.

"Some of these guys don't even know how hard you have to play to win a Division I game," Richard said. "It's difficult. It doesn't matter who you play."

The visiting Tigers had hotter hands while shooting 52 percent (29-of-56). Cameron Woodall (17), Cameron Christon (17), Sarion McGee(16) and Prince Moss (11) paced a balanced Grambling offense.

"These guys I believe are still trying to learn," Richard said. "They got a learning lesson tonight. They got spanked. We're trying to teach them, show them, lead them how hard you really have to play to do this and be in contention to win a game."

Grambling (2-3) led 40-27 by halftime, as ULM labored through horrific shooting woes. The Warhawks shot 23 percent in the half (8-of-35) and Grambling finished with a 7-0 spurt to build a 13-point advantage.

ULM started the game with a 7-2 burst as Grambling went 1-for-7 from the field, but its last lead was 10-8 with 13:46 on the clock The Warhawks struggled through a 1-for-18 drought of their own to fall behind 17-10 by the 10:53 mark of the first half.

Through 20 minutes, Grambling held big edges in points in the paint (16-6) and fast-break points (9-0).

"I think we only had three layups and they had seven or eight," Richard said. "We gave them life. They knocked down a few shots and got excited."

Morency and Harrison scored eight points each to pace ULM in the half.

ULM couldn't gain traction in the second half as Grambling outscored the Warhawks, 38-34, over the final 20 minutes.

Overall, Grambling made 11-of-23 3-pointers and outscored ULM, 30-18, in the paint. Grambling led for 32:28 of the contest.

"We tried to play harder in the second half, but the damage was done," Richard said. "They had really (played more physical) at times and bothered us with their length."

Tail feathers: Thomas Howell grabbed seven rebounds as the Warhawks won the battle on the boards, 41-36. … Point guard Elijah Gonzalez, whose strong performance against Stephen F. Austin drew comparisons to Nick Coppola, was rewarded with his first ULM start. … The Warhawks go on the road for their next game on Saturday, Dec. 19. Tipoff at Southern Miss is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
 
Print Friendly Version