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ULM Entertains I-20 Rival LA Tech

ULM Entertains I-20 Rival LA Tech

Men's Basketball Dec 22
Game 7: Louisiana Tech (6-2) vs. ULM (2-4)
Tuesday, Dec. 22 | 6:30 p.m.
Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,000)
Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM
 

2020-21 ULM Basketball Notes: Game 7 vs. Louisiana Tech
 
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STORYLINE –
ULM (2-4), which opened the 2020-21 season with a 78-62 loss at Louisiana Tech, looks to earn an I-20 series split when the Bulldogs visit Fant-Ewing Coliseum for the first time in exactly seven years on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
 
Tuesday's game also marks ULM's final non-conference match-up as the Warhawks are set to open Sun Belt Conference play with a home series Jan. 1-2 against Arkansas State.
 
ULM's starting lineup features two double-figure scorers, in forward Russell Harrison (13.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and guard Koreem Ozier (11.2 ppg., 4.3 rpg.). Harrison leads the Warhawks in scoring, rebounding, 3-point field goals made (12) and free-throw percentage (.833).
 
THE STARTING FIVE –
• Junior forward Russell Harrison leads ULM in scoring (13.5 points per game), rebounding (6.0 pg.) and 3-point field goals made (12). The 6-foot-7 Harrison has scored in double figures in five of the first six games in 2020-21. He set season highs for points (22), rebounds (9) and assists (3) in the home opener against Lamar.
 
Harrison ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 15 in five different statistical categories: tied for eighth in free-throw percentage (.833), ninth in minutes played (32.2 per game), 10th in 3-point field goals (2.0 pg.), tied for 14th in rebounding (6.0 pg.) and 17th in scoring (13.5 ppg.).
 
• Junior guard Koreem Ozier leads the team in minutes played (32.6 per game) and ranks second in scoring (11.2 ppg.) and rebounding (4.3 rpg.). The 6-foot-1 Ozier has posted double figures twice, including a season-high 28 points in ULM's 66-55 victory over SFA. He made 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and all six free-throw attempts against the Lumberjacks.
 
Ozier played a solid all-around game in ULM's 92-83 overtime win at Northwestern State, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
 
The transfer from Sacred Heart University is listed among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in minutes played (eighth at 32.8 mpg.) and 3-point field-goal percentage (14th at .400; 8-of-20).
 
• Junior guard Elijah Gonzales leads the Warhawks in assists (23) and steals (9). The 5-foot-11 Gonzales has led the team in assists in three of the last four games. He also has made 5-of-7 3-point field-goal attempts (.714).
 
The transfer from Clarendon College ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 10 in assists (tied for fourth at 3.8 per game) and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
 
Gonzales came off the bench to provide a spark in ULM's 66-55 win over Stephen F. Austin, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He connected on 6-of-8 shots from the floor, including all three from behind the 3-point arc, against SFA.
 
A native of Clackamas, Oregon, Gonzales added nine points, four assists and a steal in nearly 25 minutes in ULM's overtime win at Northwestern State.
 
• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in 3-point field goals made (fifth at 7.7 per game), turnovers (fifth at 13.7 per game) and 3-point field-goal percentage (sixth at .341). In addition, the Warhawks are recording an assist on 52 percent (69-of-133) of their made field goals.
 
• Throughout preseason practice, ULM head coach Keith Richard noted the improved depth on the 2020-21 roster. Take a look his playing rotation through the first six games and you'll see 10 different players are logging at least 10 minutes per game. In addition, the Warhawk bench has outscored the opponent's reserves in four of the first six games while providing 22.8 points per game. The bench accounted for a season-high 38 points in ULM's 92-83 overtime win at Northwestern State.
 
ULM/LA TECH COACHING CONNECTION –
ULM head coach Keith Richard previously spent nine seasons (1998-2007) in the same capacity at Louisiana Tech, where he compiled a 150-117 record (.562). In his first season, Richard led the Bulldogs to a 19-9 record, including the 1999 Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship (10-4). He guided LA Tech to three 20-win seasons and two postseason appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (2002 and 2006). His 150 career wins rank third on LA Tech's all-time list.
 
ULM/LA TECH SERIES NOTES –
Tuesday's game marks the 90th meeting between ULM and Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 53-36 (.596), including a 20-25 record (.444) in games played in Monroe. ULM and Louisiana Tech played a home-and-home series for 38 consecutive seasons from 1953-54 through 1990-91.
 
LA Tech has won the last seven meetings in a row, including three-straight games in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. It marks the Bulldogs' first appearance in Fant-Ewing Coliseum in exactly seven years, as LA Tech posted an 83-61 road win on Dec. 22, 2013.
 
ULM's last victory in the series came at home on Jan. 28, 1991, 100-89.
 
WARHAWKS vs. CONFERENCE USA TEAMS –
The Warhawks have compiled a 116-147 record (.441) against current members of Conference USA (2-6 vs. Florida Atlantic, 4-4 vs. FIU, 36-53 vs. Louisiana Tech, 6-9 vs. Middle Tennessee, 30-23 vs. North Texas, 2-0 vs. Rice, 15-23 vs. Southern Miss, 1-2 vs. UAB, 0-2 vs. UTEP, 19-13 vs. UTSA and 1-12 vs. Western Kentucky).
 
ULM plays its second-straight game and third overall this season against an opponent from C-USA. The Warhawks, who are coming off a 60-47 setback at Southern Miss last Saturday, opened the 2020-21 season with a 78-62 loss at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 3.
 
THE LAST TIME MEETING –
Louisiana Tech 78, ULM 62 (Dec. 3, 2020, in Ruston, La.): Kalob Ledoux and Cobe Williams combined for 29 points to lead a well-balanced scoring attack as Louisiana Tech improved to 3-0 on the season with a 78-62 win over I-20 rival ULM at the Thomas Assembly Center. It marked the season opener for the Warhawks.
 
Williams buried three 3-pointers in the first 4:17 as LA Tech raced out to a 12-2 lead. After a 30-second timeout by ULM, Erie Olonade's 3 from the left wing sparked a 16-7 run as the Warhawks cut their deficit to one at 19-18 on Josh Nicholas' trey from the left corner. Russell Harrison accounted for eight of ULM's 16 points during that stretch.
 
The Bulldogs responded with a 21-6 spurt and built a 16-point lead at 40-24 on Amorie Archibald's step-back jumper from the right side of the lane with 3:03 left in the first half. LA Tech led by 14 at the intermission, 45-31.
 
Louisiana Tech shot 53 percent (18-of-34) from the field in the first half, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from behind the 3-point arc. The Bulldogs made 11-of-14 field-goal attempts during one stretch. LA Tech also outrebounded ULM, 25-9, in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Warhawks were unable to cut the margin to single digits in the second half. A pair of free throws from Jacolby Pemberton gave LA Tech its largest lead at 74-51 with 7:31 remaining in the game.
 
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Ledoux who netted all 15 of his points in the second half. LA Tech also got 14 points from Williams, 12 from Pemberton, 11 from Archibald, while Kenneth Lofton Jr. came off the bench to record a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
In his ULM debut, Harrison played a solid all-around game, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. Newcomer Marco Morency contributed 10 points and four assists while Nicholas added 10 points off the bench. Nine different Warhawks scored in the game.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT –
Southern Miss 60, ULM 47 (Dec. 19 in Hattiesburg, Miss.): ULM produced balanced scoring in the box score on Saturday but not nearly enough to win.
 
In a defensive struggle where offense was hard to muster for both teams, Southern Miss dropped the cold-shooting Warhawks 60-47 at Reed Green Coliseum.
 
ULM (2-4) had 10 different players score but none reached double figures. The Warhawks shot just 35 percent (18-for-51) and made 17 turnovers, leading to 18 points for the home team. ULM was just 5-of-7 from the free-throw line.
 
The Golden Eagles (3-3) shot 34 percent (20-of-58) but also finished 13-of-18 from the free-throw line.
 
Russell Harrison led ULM with nine points but was 2-for-12 from the field. Harrison came into the game as the team's top scorer, averaging 14.4 points.
 
LaDavius Draine scored 17 and Tae Hardy added 16 to lead the Golden Eagles, who closed out their win with a 33-21 second half.
 
Southern Miss led 27-26 at halftime as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. In a half full of runs and droughts for both squads. the Warhawks shot 32 percent (10-of-31) while the Golden Eagles shot 30 percent (10-of-33).
 
Southern Miss rode a 10-0 run and took 10-3 lead as Warhawks labored for four minutes, 11 seconds without scoring
 
The Warhawks utilized their own 12-2 run and regained the lead at 17-15 on Koreem Ozier's 3-pointer with 8:09 left in the first half. ULM's last lead of the half was 21-18 with 4:38 to go.
 
ULM opened the second half with six turnovers in the first four minutes, 9 seconds and a scoring drought that extended past six minutes. But with Southern Miss going through its own struggles offensively too, the Warhawks stayed within four points.
 
The Golden Eagles began to find their stroke and pull away. Jaron Pierre's back-to-back 3-pointers extended the lead to 44-35 for Southern Miss with 9:03 left in the game.
 
USM was up by 11, its largest lead to that point, when Erie Olonade hit a 3-pointer with 6:50 showing to make it a 48-40 score. However, the Warhawks went without a field goal until Harrison's 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining and failed to make a run back into contention.
 
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (15): Russell Harrison 5, Marco Morency 3, Josh Nicholas 2, Koreem Ozier 2, Thomas Howell 1, Elijah Gonzales 1, Luke Phillips 1. Opponents: 20.
 
20-point games (2). Russell Harrison 1, Koreem Ozier 1. Opponents: 1.
 
Double-figure rebounding games (0): None. Opponents: 6.
 
Double-doubles (0): None. Opponents: 5.
 
Games leading ULM in scoring: Russell Harrison 4, Koreem Ozier 2.
 
Games leading ULM in rebounding: Russell Harrison 3, Chris Efretuei 1, Thomas Howell 1, Koreem Ozier 1.
 
Games leading ULM in assists: Elijah Gonzales 3, Marco Morency 1, Josh Nicholas 1, Koreem Ozier 1.
 
2020-21 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Dec. 3 at Louisiana Tech: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 6 at Northwestern State: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Howell
Dec. 9 vs. Lamar: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 12 vs. Stephen F. Austin: Nicholas, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 16 vs. Grambling State: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 19 at Southern Miss: Olonade, Ozier, Harrison, Howell, Efretuei
                                
Different Starting Combinations (5):
Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 2 (0-2)
Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Howell: 1 (1-0)
Nicholas, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 1 (1-0)
Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 1 ( 0-1)
Olonade, Ozier, Harrison, Howell, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
 
2020-21 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 1-2
Games played on the road: 1-2
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0                    
 
Games played in December: 2-4
Games played in January: 0-0
Games played in February: 0-0
Games played in March: 0-0                              
 
When leading at halftime: 1-1
When trailing at halftime: 1-3
When tied at halftime: 0-0
 
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 1-0
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 1-4
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-1
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 2-3
 
When outrebounding opponent: 1-1
When outrebounded by opponent: 0-3
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
 
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 2-1
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 0-3
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-0
 
When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 1-2                    
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 1-2
When turnover totals are equal: 0-0
 
When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-1         
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 1-3
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 1-0
 
When opponent scores less than 50 points: 0-0  
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-0
 
Games decided by five points or less: 0-1
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-0
Games decided by 11-19 points: 1-3
Games decided by 20 points or more: 0-0
 
Last five games: 2-3                                                 
Last 10 games: ----
 
Largest deficit overcome to win: 7 (20-12 and 23-16 at Northwestern State, Dec. 6)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 13 (38-25 vs. Lamar, Dec. 9)
 
 
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