ULM Completes Road Swing at UTA Saturday

Men's Basketball Feb 01

Game 21: ULM (6-14, 2-9 Sun Belt) vs. UT Arlington (9-13, 5-6 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 2 p.m.
Arlington, Texas | College Park Center (7,000)

Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM

2019-20 ULM Basketball Notes: Game 21 vs. UT Arlington

STORYLINE –
ULM (6-14, 2-9 Sun Belt) completes its two-game Sun Belt road swing at UT Arlington on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. The Warhawks, who are seeking their first road win of the season (0-9), also are attempting to end a seven-game losing streak in league play.

Two weeks ago, UTA won the first meeting of the regular season at ULM, 78-58.

ULM enters its second-straight game without its second-leading scorer (14.1 ppg.) and rebounder (5.2 rpg.), in JD Williams, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the first half at the Ragin' Cajuns last Saturday.

Tyree White has been a model of consistency over his last five games, averaging 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds. White has led the Warhawks in scoring in four of the last five games.

THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM enters its second-straight game without its second-leading scorer (14.1 ppg.) and rebounder (5.2 rpg.), in JD Williams, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the first half at the Ragin' Cajuns last Saturday. Williams underwent surgery on Friday to repair his fractured left ankle.

ULM's starting backcourt of Michael Ertel and Williams had combined to average 29.5 points per game. The tandem had combined to account for 47 percent (560 of 1,200 points) of the team's scoring through the first 19 games.

Ertel is ranked among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in five statistical categories: first in minutes played (37.2 pg.), seventh in scoring (15.6 ppg.), ninth in field-goal percentage (.403), ninth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.357), 10th in free-throw percentage (.781) and 10th in 3-pointers made per game (2.1). His 37.2 minutes per game rank No. 11 among NCAA Division I players. He has scored in double figures in 25 of his last 27 games (dating back to last season).

• Senior forward Tyree White is averaging 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds over his last five games. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound White is hitting 59 percent (30-of-51) of his field-goal attempts, including 56 percent (5-of-9) from behind the 3-point arc, and 83 percent (20-of-24) from the free-throw line during the stretch. He has led the Warhawks in scoring in four of his last five games. White scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Texas State. He recorded his first career double-double at the Ragin' Cajuns with 15 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. White previously posted 21 points at Georgia State, 16 against Texas State and 18 against UT Arlington.

• ULM has held 18 of its 20 opponents below 50-percent shooting from the field. Coastal Carolina became the first opponent to shoot better than 50 percent from the field against the Warhawks, finishing 34-of-62 (55 percent) from the floor, including 11-of-30 3-pointers (37 percent). ULM also allowed a season-high 93 points at Coastal.

Georgia State shot a season-best 58 percent (30-of-52) from the field against ULM, including 62 percent (18-of-29) in the second half.

By comparison, the Warhawks have shot better than 50 percent from the floor in three games: .538 vs. Alcorn State (28-52), season-high .542 vs. Little Rock (26-48) and .522 vs. Troy (24-46).

• Six of ULM's 14 losses have come by a combined total of 23 points. The Warhawks led in the second half in each of those six losses (at Texas A&M, vs. Grambling State, at SFA, vs. Little Rock, vs. Arkansas State and vs. Texas State). ULM's seven-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 3-point field-goal percentage defense (third at .317), scoring defense (fourth at 67.7 points per game), 3-point field-goal percentage (fourth at .337) and blocked shots (sixth at 3.3 pg.).

In league games, the Warhawks rank fourth in field-goal percentage (.435) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.337).

UT ARLINGTON SCOUTING REPORT –
UT Arlington (9-13, 5-6 Sun Belt) has won four of its last six Sun Belt Conference games. The Mavericks had their three-game winning streak snapped Thursday night as Louisiana Lafayette's Dou Gueye buried a turnaround 3-pointer as time expired to give the Ragin' Cajuns a 66-65 win.

Like ULM, UTA has been involved in its fair share of close games. Five of the Mavs' six Sun Belt losses have come by six points or less.

UTA's playing rotation features two double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-4 guard David Azore (15.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds pg., 3.5 assists pg.) and 5-9 guard Brian Warren (12.8 ppg., 3.8 apg.).

Azore ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in five different statistical categories: fourth in field-goal percentage (.471), fourth in free-throw percentage (.839), sixth in scoring (15.8 ppg.), tied for sixth in assists (3.8 apg.) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6). The junior from Houston, Texas, has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games. Azore has recorded two double-doubles this season, including a 33-point, 12-rebound effort at Georgia Southern.

Warren is listed among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.9), assists (fourth at 3.8 apg.) and scoring (17th at 12.8 ppg.). The senior from Indianapolis, Indiana, has reached double figures in 13 games, including two 20-point outings. Warren posted a double-double against Arkansas Tech with 15 points and 12 assists.

Jabari Narcis, a 6-9 forward, averages 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in blocked shots (fourth) and rebounding (seventh). A native of Chaguanas, Trinidad, Narcis recorded his fourth double-double of the season in UTA's victory at ULL, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UTA ranks among the conference leaders in free-throw percentage (first at .769), assists (tied for first at 14.8 pg.), assist-to-turnover ratio (first at 1.3), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (second at .309), field-goal percentage defense (fourth at .407), 3-point field goals made (fourth at 7.9 pg.) and scoring defense (fifth at 68.2 ppg.).

ULM/UT ARLINGTON SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the 73rd meeting between ULM and UT Arlington. The Warhawks lead the all-time series, 51-21, including a 19-12 record in games played in Arlington. UTA has won nine of the last 14 meetings. ULM's last win in Arlington came on Feb. 20, 2016, 64-61.

Two weeks ago, UTA won the first regular-season meeting 78-58 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

THE LAST MEETING –
UT Arlington 78, ULM 58 (Jan. 18, 2020, in Monroe, La.): ULM endured a day of frustration at Fant-Ewing Coliseum as the Warhawks dropped their fifth-straight game last Saturday with a 78-58 loss to UT Arlington.

ULM (6-12, 2-7 Sun Belt) couldn't overcome lopsided numbers at the free-throw line or in the rebounding column. UTA (8-12, 4-5) made 27-of-32 from the free-throw line and outrebounded ULM, 48-22. The Warhawks converted just 13-of-21 free-throw attempts.

ULM head coach Keith Richard was ejected from the game with 1:14 left in the first half after a traveling call against JD Williams. Richard left the bench and dashed onto the court to express his displeasure to earn his technical foul.

Tyree White led ULM with 18 points while Williams added 14 points and five rebounds. The Warhawks shot 21-of-55 from the floor (38.2 percent) and hit just three of their 16 3-point attempts.

UTA led 40-28 at halftime despite shooting just 31 percent from the field. The Mavericks overcame their cold shooting by going 18-of-21 from the free throw line and outrebounding ULM, 29-14.

ULM suffered through a cold start offensively on 4-of-19 shooting and trailed 15-10 with 10:18 to go in the first half. An 8-0 run allowed UTA to surge up 19-10 as ULM went more than 5:24 minutes without scoring and nearly seven minutes without a FG until Jalen Hodge's basket at the 5:27 mark.

The Warhawks trailed by as many as 17 but scored the final five points to close out the half as UTA failed to make a field goal over the final 2:04.

Brian Warren provided punch off the bench for UTA with 19 points. His production gave the Mavs a 43-10 edge off the bench. Radshad Davis scored 19 points to go along with 14 rebounds as UTA won the battle of the boards, including an 18-6 advantage on the offensive end.

The second half provided no relief for the home team as UTA's shooters heated up (54.2 percent).

The Mavericks led by as many 20 and ULM never got the lead under double digits.

THE LAST MEETING IN ARLINGTON –
UT Arlington 91, ULM 86 – 2OT (Feb. 23, 2019, in Arlington, Texas): Brian Warren scored 13 of his career-high 33 points after regulation as UT Arlington beat ULM in double overtime, 91-86.

The Mavericks (13-15, 9-6 Sun Belt Conference) snapped a three-game skid and improved to 3-0 in overtime games in 2018-19.

Daishon Smith scored 34 points to lead ULM (14-12, 7-7).

Warren had five points in the first overtime, including a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to tie it at 78. Michael Ertel missed a jumper with 5 seconds to go for the Warhawks, but David Azore's floater for the Mavericks hit the front of the rim to send it to another period.

Warren made a layup and was 6-of-6 shooting at the line as the Mavericks outscored ULM, 13-8, in the second OT.

Tiandre Jackson-Young had 12 points for UTA. Rashad Davis added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Ertel had 22 points and six rebounds and JD Williams added 12 points for the Warhawks.

THE LAST TIME OUT –
Texas State 71, ULM 51 (Jan. 30, 2020, in San Marcos, Texas): Alonzo Sule and Shelby Adams came off the bench to combine for 27 points as Texas State rallied from a six-point halftime deficit for a 71-51 victory over ULM Thursday to complete the regular-season sweep against the Warhawks. The Bobcats outscored ULM, 47-21, after the intermission.

ULM scored the first seven points of the game and led throughout the first half. Jalen Hodge's 3-pointer from the top of the circle gave the Warhawks a 13-4 lead with 11:05 left. Texas State responded with a 5-0 run and pulled to within 13-9 on Adams' transition 3-pointer from straightaway. ULM answered with a 6-0 spurt and took its largest lead at 19-9 on Michael Ertel's pull-up jumper from the right side of the lane with 7:42 on the clock. Behind Ertel's 14 first-half points, the Warhawks led 30-24 at the break.

ULM limited Texas State to 23-percent field-goal shooting (6-of-26) in the first half, including just 1-of-7 (14 percent) from 3-point range.

Trailing 36-30 3 1/2 minutes into the second half, Texas State (13-9, 6-5 Sun Belt) went on an 18-2 run to turn a six-point deficit into a 10-point lead at 48-38 on Adams' 3-point play with 10:39 remaining. ULM (6-14, 2-9) went exactly eight minutes between field goals, but Chris Efretuei scored five-straight points as the Warhawks cut their deficit in half at 48-43 with 9:40 left in the game. The Bobcats put together a 15-4 run to take control of the game, extending their lead to 63-47 on a pair of free throws from Mason Harrell with 2:46 to play.

ULM failed to find its offensive rhythm in the second half, hitting just 8-of-24 of its field-goal attempts (33 percent) while going 0-for-8 from behind the 3-point arc.

Texas State, which recorded 15 offensive rebounds, enjoyed a 20-9 advantage in second-chance points.

Sule led Texas State with 15 points, hitting 4-of-7 field-goal attempts and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. The Bobcats also got a season-high 12 points from Adams and 10 from Isaih Small.

ULM's Langston Powell limited Nijal Pearson, the Sun Belt Conference's leading scorer at 20.1 points per game, to a season-low eight points on 2-of-16 shooting from the field, including 2-of-8 3-pointers. Powell held Pearson without a field goal for 31:04 (Pearson's first basket came on a 3-pointer at the 8:56 mark in the second half).

Ertel scored a game-high 18 points to pace the Warhawks, followed by Tyree White who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Josh Nicholas came off the ULM bench to collect a career-high eight rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS –
• Michael Ertel is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four career games against UT Arlington. Ertel has scored in double figures in three of those four games, including 20-point efforts. He has connected on 40 percent (10-of-25) on his 3-point field-goal attempts against UTA.

• Through 20 games, ULM has allowed only four opposing players to score 20 or more points. Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 27 points to lead Louisiana Lafayette to an 81-60 victory over rival ULM Saturday as the Ragin' Cajuns snapped a four-game losing streak in Sun Belt Conference play. Johnson hit 7-of-10 field-goal attempts, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, and 10-of-12 free-throw attempts.

Texas State's Nijal Pearson scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the second half as the Bobcats rallied for a 10-point deficit for a 64-63 road win at ULM.

Georgia State's Justin Roberts hit 7-of-9 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 23 points to lead the Panthers to an 84-62 victory over ULM while extending their home-court winning streak to 14 games.

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 10 20-point games (5 by Michael Ertel, 3 by JD Williams, 1 by Jalen Hodge and 1 by Tyree White).

• ULM is 4-1 when scoring 70 or more points.

• Eight of ULM's 20 games have been decided by eight points or less (2-6 record).

• ULM has recorded assists on at least 50 percent of its field goals in 11 games, including seven of the last 12 contests. The Warhawks were credited with assists on a season-best 74 percent of their field goals (20-27) vs. South Alabama.

• ULM ranks fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in overall average home attendance (1,906 per game) and third in attendance for league home games (2,012 per game).

WARHAWKS TOUGH ON HOMECOURT –
ULM is 32-12 (.727) in games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum since 2017-18. 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 118 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 846 of ULM's 1,004 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.

WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (55): Michael Ertel 18, JD Williams 15, Tyree White 8, Jalen Hodge 7, Josh Nicholas 2, Chris Efretuei 2, Langston Powell 2, Youry White 1. Opponents: 55.

20-point games (10): Michael Ertel 5, JD Williams 3, Jalen Hodge 1, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 4.

30-point games (1): Michael Ertel 1. Opponents: 1.

40-point games (0): None. Opponents: None.

Double-figure rebounding games (3): D'Andre Bernard 1, Chris Efretuei 1, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 4.

Double-doubles (1): Tyree White 1. Opponents: 3.

Games leading ULM in scoring: Michael Ertel 5, Tyree White 5, JD Williams 5, Jalen Hodge 2, Josh Nicholas 1, Langston Powell 1.

Games leading ULM in rebounding: Tyree White 5, JD Williams 5, Chris Efretuei 3, D'Andre Bernard 3, Youry White 2, Michael Ertel 1, Jalen Hodge 1, Josh Nicholas 1.

Games leading ULM in assists: Michael Ertel 9, JD Williams 7, Tyree White 4, Jalen Hodge 3, Erie Olonade 1, D'Andre Bernard 1, Elijah Ifejeh 1, Youry White 1, Langston Powell 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
Jan. 2 vs. Troy: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, Ifejeh, Efretuei
Jan. 4 vs. South Alabama: Ertel, Williams, Nicholas, Ifejeh, Efretuei
Jan. 6 at Coastal Carolina: Ertel, Williams, Nicholas, Ifejeh, Efretuei
Jan. 9 at Georgia Southern: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Efretuei
Jan. 11 at Georgia State: Ertel, Williams, Powell, T. White, Efretuei
Jan. 16 vs. Texas State: Ertel, Williams, Olonade, T. White, Efretuei
Jan. 18 vs. UT Arlington: Ertel, Williams, Hodge, T. White, Efretuei
Jan. 25 at Ragin' Cajuns: Ertel, Williams, Powell, T. White, Efretuei
Jan. 30 at Texas State: Ertel, Hodge, Powell, T. White, Efretuei

Different Starting Combinations (10):
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: 3 (0-3)
Ertel, Williams, Hodge, Ifejeh, Efretuei: 1 (1-0)
Ertel, Williams, Nicholas, Ifejeh, Efretuei: 2 (1-1)
Ertel, Williams, Powell, T. White, Efretuei: 2 (0-2)
Ertel, Williams, Olonade, T. White, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
Ertel, Hodge, Powell, T. White, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)

2019-20 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 6-5
Games played on the road: 0-9
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0

Games played in November: 3-2
Games played in December: 1-5
Games played in January: 2-7
Games played in February: 0-0
Games played in March: 0-0

When leading at halftime: 5-5
When trailing at halftime: 1-8
When tied at halftime: 0-1

When shooting .500 or better from the field: 2-1
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 4-13
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-2
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 6-12

When outrebounding opponent: 3-2
When outrebounded by opponent: 2-11
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-1

When hitting more free throws than opponent: 5-4
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 1-10
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-0

When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 1-3
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 4-10
When turnover totals are equal: 1-1

When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-6
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 2-5
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 3-1
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 1-0
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 0-0

When opponent scores less than 50 points: 2-0
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 0-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 3-8
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 1-3
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-1

Games decided by five points or less: 1-4
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-2
Games decided by 11-19 points: 1-2
Games decided by 20 points or more: 3-6

Last five games: 0-5
Last 10 games: 2-8

Largest deficit overcome to win: 4 (3x)
(7-3 vs. Alcorn State, Nov. 9; 31-27 vs. Millsaps College, Dec. 4; 35-31 vs. Troy, Jan. 2)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 10 (4x)
(34-24 at Texas A&M, Nov. 11; 62-52 vs. Little Rock, Dec. 19; 46-36 vs. Texas State, Jan. 16; 19-9 at Texas State, Jan. 30)

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.

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ULM Completes Road Swing at UTA Saturday