ULM Seeks First Road Win, Series Sweep Against Troy

Men's Basketball Feb 13

Game 24: ULM (6-17, 2-12 Sun Belt) vs. Troy (9-16, 5-9 Sun Belt)
Thursday, Feb. 13 | 6 p.m.
Troy, Ala. | Trojan Arena (5,200)

Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM

ULM Basketball Notes: Game 24 vs. Troy

STORYLINE –
ULM (6-17, 2-12 Sun Belt) opens a three-game Sun Belt road swing at Troy on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. The Warhawks, who are seeking their first road win of the season (0-10), also are attempting to end a 10-game losing streak in league play.

Eight of ULM's 17 losses have come by a combined total of 33 points. The Warhawks are 1-5 in games decided by five points on less.

ULM junior guard Michael Ertel leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg.), 3-point field goals (48) and assists (64). Ertel has scored in double figures in 21 of 23 games, including six 20-point outings.

Senior forward Tyree White has been a model of consistency over his last eight games, averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. White has led the Warhawks in scoring in six of the last eight games.

THE STARTING FIVE –
• ULM enters its fifth-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 on Jan. 25. Williams underwent surgery on Jan. 31 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 (37.4 pg.), fifth in scoring (16.0 ppg.), sixth in free-throw percentage (.795), ninth in field-goal percentage (.416), ninth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.358) and ninth in 3-point field goals made (2.1 mpg.). His 37.4 minutes per game rank No. 11 among NCAA Division I players. He has scored in double figures in 28 of his last 30 games (dating back to last season).

• Senior forward Tyree White is averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds over his last eight games. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound White is hitting 52 percent (46-of-88) of his field-goal attempts, including 35 percent (6-of-17) from behind the 3-point arc, and 77 percent (27-of-35) from the free-throw line during the stretch. He has led the Warhawks in scoring in six of his last eight games.

White contributed 10 points (5-of-10 FG shooting) in ULM's 67-65 loss to Georgia Southern Thursday night. He scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Texas State and followed with 11 points and seven boards at UT Arlington. White recorded his first career double-double at the Ragin' Cajuns with 15 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. He previously posted 21 points at Georgia State, 16 against Texas State and 18 against UT Arlington.

• ULM has held 21 of its 23 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 four games: .538 vs. Alcorn State (28-52), season-high .542 vs. Little Rock (26-48), .522 vs. Troy (24-46) and .521 vs. Georgia Southern (25-48).

• Eight of ULM's 17 losses have come by a combined total of 33 points. The Warhawks led in the second half in seven of those eight losses (at Texas A&M, vs. Grambling State, at SFA, vs. Little Rock, vs. Arkansas State, vs. Texas State and vs. Georgia Southern). ULM's 10-game losing streak is the program's longest since an 11-game skid during the 2011-12 season.

• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in scoring defense (fourth at 68.1 points per game), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (fourth at .320), 3-point field-goal percentage (fifth at .337) and blocked shots (fifth at 3.1 pg.).

TROY SCOUTING REPORT –
Troy (9-16, 5-9 Sun Belt) has lost four of its last five league games. The Trojans are 6-6 at home this season, including a 3-4 record in Sun Belt games.

Troy's playing rotation features three double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-4 guard Darian Adams (12.3 points per game, 55 3-pointers, 83 assists), 6-0 guard Ty Gordon (12.2 ppg., 52 3-pointers, 85 assists) and 6-1 guard Desmond Williams (10.3 ppg., 36 3-pointers).

Adams ranks among the Sun Belt's Top 20 in 3-point field goals made (tied for fifth at 2.3 pg.), assists (sixth at 3.5 apg.), minutes played (15th at 31.9 mpg.) and scoring (20th at 12.3 ppg.). The junior from Montgomery, Alabama, has scored in double figures in 15 games, including 20 points each at Texas A&M and at Arkansas State. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 23 of 24 games.

Gordon is listed among the conference leaders in four different statistical categories: fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.382), tied for 10th in 3-point field goals made (2.1 pg.), 10th in assists (3.4 apg.) and 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3). The junior from Tunica, Mississippi, has posted double figures in 17 games, including his last six in a row. Gordon netted a career-high 24 points at Georgia State (9-of-18 FG shooting including 4-of-9 3-pointers).

Desmond Williams has scored in double figures in 10 games, including a season-high 23 points at Georgia State (5-of-10 3-pointers).

Troy ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in offensive rebounds (second at 12.2 pg.), 3-point field goals made (third at 8.6 pg.), assists (fifth at 14.4 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth at 1.0). The Trojans are hitting a Sun Belt-best 9.6 3-pointers per game in league play.

ULM/TROY SERIES NOTES –
Thursday's game marks the 22nd meeting between ULM and Troy. The Trojans lead the all-time series, 11-10, including a 5-3 record in games played in Troy. The Warhawks have won seven of the
last nine meetings overall. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by six points or less.

On Jan. 2, ULM won the first regular-season meeting, 79-63, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 79, Troy 63 (Jan. 2, 2020, in Monroe, La.): Tyree White scored a career-high 19 points and ULM snapped a five-game losing streak with a gritty 79-63 win over Troy at Fant-Ewing Coliseum Thursday night. White went 5-of-11 from the floor and made 9-of-12 free throws.

The Warhawks (5-7, 1-2) overcame a flurry of self-inflicted wounds in the first half and surged down the stretch to claim their first Sun Belt Conference win of the year. ULM hadn't won a game since topping Millsaps College on Dec. 4.

The Warhawks outscored Troy, 48-30, in the second half after trailing by two at halftime.

Guard Josh Nicholas continued his emergence, setting career highs with 15 points and seven rebounds. Appearing in just his sixth game, he came off the bench at Butler to lead the team with 12 points in ULM's last outing.

JD Williams scored 12 during the second-half charge and finished with 17 points. Michael Ertel added 11 for ULM, which shot 52.2 percent overall (24-of-46) and made 26-of-34 free throws (76.5 percent).

Ty Gordon led Troy (5-9, 1-2) with 17 points. The Trojans shot 39.7 percent (23 of 58) and made just 10 of 18 from the free-throw line.

Nicholas scored nine first-half points off the bench and the Warhawks led by as many as 11 points at the 4:07 mark in the first half but melted down the stretch.

ULM made eight-straight turnovers to finish the first half and Troy enjoyed a 13-0 run that allowed the visiting team to retake the lead at 33-31 with 1:31 remaining. Troy made five of its last seven field goals and cranked up the defensive pressure over the final 3:40 to send ULM to the locker room searching for answers down by two.

The Warhawks toiled more than six minutes without a field goal until Chris Efretuei's dunk at the 17:47 mark in the second half.

ULM weathered the mid-game storm and started to make its move. The Warhawks tied the game at 39-39 on a free throw by White and reclaimed the lead at 41-40 with 12:18 to go on an Ertel layup. Ertel also was instrumental in helping ULM settle down after the turnover spell.

A 6-0 ULM run pushed the lead to eight at 58-50 with 7:46 to go in the game. The Warhawks had rebuilt their edge to 11 again at the 5:39 mark on a pair of White free throws.

Williams drained a 3-pointer to punctuate an 8-0 run that saw ULM stack its lead to 66-52 with 5:00 remaining and ULM would lead by as many as 18 points down the stretch.

THE LAST MEETING IN TROJAN ARENA –
Troy 73, ULM 67 (Feb. 24, 2018, in Troy, Ala.): Jordon Varnado recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Troy to a 73-67 home-court victory over ULM. Varnado hit 9-of-18 field-goal attempts, including 2-of-4 3-pointers.

The Trojans also got 17 points each from Wesley Person and Alex Hicks.

Troy outrebounded ULM, 45-32, and held a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Travis Munnings paced ULM with 26 points and nine rebounds. Munnings connected on 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 4-of-9 3s.

Two other Warhawks scored in double figures, with Marvin Jean-Pierre adding 12 points and Sam McDaniel contributing 11.

THE LAST TIME OUT –
Georgia State 77, ULM 69 (Feb. 10, 2020, in Monroe, La.): Head coach Keith Richard can see the good in his team, even if the record and the current 10-game losing streak would paint a different picture.

But he also realizes that bad stretches in any game can derail the best effort. It's a familiar pattern that has undermined ULM basketball this season.

Four players reached double figures in scoring for ULM on Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum, but it wasn't enough to stop Georgia State in a 77-69 loss.

Tyree White led the way with 19 points along with nine rebounds while Michael Ertel added 17 points. Off the bench, Youry White delivered career highs in points (11) and rebounds (10) for his first double-double. Erie Olonade also scored 11 points for the Warhawks.

ULM (6-17, 2-12) let this one get away with a bad stretch to open the second half.

The Panthers emerged from the break with an 11-2 run to go ahead 43-31 as ULM fell into a lull. Tyree White's fast break dunk at the 15:17 mark broke the streak but the damage was done.

The Warhawks suffered a similar second-half slump in last Thursday's 67-65 loss to Georgia Southern.

ULM kept it close through most of the first half with a solid defensive effort. Georgia State pulled away from a 17-17 tie with a 9-0 run as ULM went 3:45 without scoring.

The Warhawks struggled with a field goal drought that lasted more than five minutes but stayed close as Georgia State also couldn't buy a bucket for more than five minutes (0-for-8). ULM cut the lead to one at 28-27 on a pair of Josh Nicholas free throws and trailed 32-29 at halftime.

Boosted by its fast start in the second half, Georgia State built its biggest lead of 16 at 56-40 with 9:40 remaining in the game before a 9-0 ULM run cut the deficit to 56-49.

Back-to-back jumpers from Ertel shaved the lead to five at 63-58 during a productive stretch that saw ULM make five consecutive baskets.

Corey Allen stroked a 3-pointer from the corner and hit a short jumper to quiet the Warhawks and extend the lead back to 68-58.

White delivered a follow dunk and scored off a steal during ULM's final push to shave the deficit down to 70-64.

The Panthers would close out their road win at the free-throw line, where they shot a robust 22-of-25 for the game. Kane Williams, who scored 19 points, was 13-of-14 from the line.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS –
• Michael Ertel is averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four career games against Troy. Ertel has scored in double figures in three of those four games, including one 20-point effort.

Tyree White is averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in two career games against Troy. White has made 50 percent (8-of-16) of his field-goal attempts against the Trojans.

• Through 23 games, ULM has allowed only five opposing players to score 20 or more points. Georgia Southern's Quan Jackson netted 20 of his season-high 24 points (9-of-17 FG shooting including 4-of-6 3-pointers) in the second half as the Eagles escaped with a 67-65 win over the Warhawks Thursday night.

Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 27 points to lead Louisiana Lafayette to an 81-60 victory over rival ULM 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 11 20-point games (6 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.

• Ten of ULM's 23 games have been decided by eight points or less (2-8 record).

• ULM has recorded assists on at least 50 percent of its field goals in 13 games, including nine of the last 15 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 (1,911 per game) and fourth in attendance for league home games (1,995 per game).

WARHAWKS TOUGH ON HOMECOURT –
ULM is 32-14 (.696) 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.

WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (64): Michael Ertel 21, JD Williams 15, Tyree White 11, Jalen Hodge 7, Josh Nicholas 2, Chris Efretuei 2, Langston Powell 2, Youry White 2, Erie Olonade 2. Opponents: 65.

20-point games (11): Michael Ertel 6, JD Williams 3, Jalen Hodge 1, Tyree White 1. Opponents: 5.

30-point games (2): Michael Ertel 2. Opponents: 1.

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

Double-figure rebounding games (4): D'Andre Bernard 1, Chris Efretuei 1, Tyree White 1, Youry White 1. Opponents: 5.

Double-doubles (2): Tyree White 1, Youry White 1. Opponents: 4.

Games leading ULM in scoring: Tyree White 7, Michael Ertel 6, JD Williams 5, Jalen Hodge 2, Josh Nicholas 1, Langston Powell 1.

Games leading ULM in rebounding: Tyree White 6, JD Williams 5, Chris Efretuei 3, D'Andre Bernard 3, Youry White 3, Josh Nicholas 2, Michael Ertel 1, Jalen Hodge 1, Erie Olonade 1.

Games leading ULM in assists: Michael Ertel 10, JD Williams 7, Tyree White 4, Jalen Hodge 3, Langston Powell 3, Erie Olonade 2, Josh Nicholas 2, 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
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
Feb. 1 at UT Arlington: Ertel, Hodge, Powell, T. White, Efretuei
Feb. 6 vs. Georgia Southern: Ertel, Nicholas, Powell, T. White, Efretuei
Feb. 8 vs. Georgia State: Ertel, Olonade, Powell, T. White, Efretuei

Different Starting Combinations (12):
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: 2 (0-2)
Ertel, Nicholas, Powell, T. White Efretuei: 1 (0-1)
Ertel, Olonade, Powell, T. White, Efretuei: 1 (0-1)

2019-20 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 6-7
Games played on the road: 0-10
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: 0-3
Games played in March: 0-0

When leading at halftime: 5-6
When trailing at halftime: 1-10
When tied at halftime: 0-1

When shooting .500 or better from the field: 2-2
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 4-15
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-2
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 6-15

When outrebounding opponent: 3-4
When outrebounded by opponent: 2-11
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-2

When hitting more free throws than opponent: 5-6
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 1-11
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: 4-13
When turnover totals are equal: 1-1

When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-2
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-7
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 2-7
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: 3-10
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 1-4
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-1

Games decided by five points or less: 1-5
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-2
Games decided by 11-19 points: 1-3
Games decided by 20 points or more: 3-6

Last five games: 0-5
Last 10 games: 1-9

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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