ULM Pursues Second Series Sweep at South Alabama

Men's Basketball Feb 15

Game 25: ULM (7-17, 3-12 Sun Belt) vs. South Alabama (15-11, 8-7 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 3 p.m. CT
Mobile, Ala. | Mitchell Center (5,520)
Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM

ULM Basketball Notes: Game 25 vs. South Alabama

STORYLINE –
ULM (7-17, 3-12) continues its three-game Sun Belt road swing at South Alabama (15-11, 8-7) on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. The Warhawks will attempt to complete their second series sweep of the season, as ULM defeated USA, 69-49, in the first meeting on Jan. 4 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

ULM is 5-1 when scoring 70 or more points.

ULM junior guard Michael Ertel leads the team in scoring (16.3 ppg.), 3-point field goals (50) and assists (65). Ertel has scored in double figures in 22 of 24 games, including seven 20-point outings. He's averaging 20.3 points in four career games against South Alabama, including a career-high 39 points (school-record 11 3-pointers) in this season's first meeting.

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 (37.5 pg.), fourth in scoring (16.3 ppg.), eighth in field-goal percentage (.418), eighth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.360), 10th in 3-point field goals made (2.1 mpg.) and 10th in free-throw percentage (.763). His 37.5 minutes per game rank No. 10 among NCAA Division I players. He has scored in double figures in 29 of his last 31 games (dating back to last season).

• Senior forward Tyree White is averaging 15.0 points and 6.7 rebounds over his last nine games. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound White is hitting 52 percent (50-of-96) of his field-goal attempts, including 38 percent (8-of-21) 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 nine games.

The St. Louis, Missouri, native contributed 10 points (4-of-8 FG shooting) and three assists at Troy. White made 7-of-14 field-goal attempts and finished with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds (five offensive boards) against Georgia State. He added 10 points against Georgia Southern (5-of-10 FG shooting). White scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Texas State and followed with 11 points and seven boards at UT Arlington. 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 22 of its 24 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 68.2 points per game), 3-point field-goal percentage (fourth at .340), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (fourth at .320), field-goal percentage (fifth at .422) and blocked shots (sixth at 3.1 pg.).

ULM/SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the 27th meeting between ULM and South Alabama. The Warhawks lead the all-time series, 14-12, including a 5-5 record in games played in Mobile. ULM has won 10 of the last 12 meetings overall, including four straight in the Mitchell Center.

On Jan. 4, ULM won the first regular-season meeting, 69-49, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 69, South Alabama 49 (Jan. 4, 2020, in Monroe, La.): Michael Ertel snapped out of a mild scoring slump Saturday afternoon to have the biggest game of his ULM career.

The junior guard scored a career-high 39 points and dropped 11 3-pointers to set a school record as ULM stopped South Alabama 69-49 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

Ertel's 11 3s also tied the Sun Belt's single-game record for league play and are the most made by an NCAA Division I player this season.

South Alabama deployed a zone defense against ULM and Ertel busted it, again and again.

With his mother and two sisters looking on from the stands, Ertel made 11-of-21 3-pointers and shot 14-of-24 overall while erasing his previous career highs of 26 points and six 3-pointers. His stat line also included six assists.

ULM improved to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt with its second-straight win. The Warhawks ended a five-game losing streak with a 79-63 win over Troy on Thursday night.

Beyond Ertel's breakout, JD Williams added 14 points with eight rebounds and a career-best seven assists.

With South Alabama remaining in a zone and the Warhawks launching from the perimeter, ULM didn't attempt a free throw.

South Alabama, the Sun Belt's preseason favorite to win the conference, fell to 8-7 and 1-3. Chad Lott's 13 points led the Jaguars, who shot 38.3 percent from the floor.

Ertel set the tone early as he scored 20 of ULM's first 25 points with six 3-pointers and the Warhawks surged ahead 25-11.

Meanwhile, USA missed five-straight field-goal attempts during a scoring drought that lasted nearly five minutes. A bucket by White punctuated an 11-0 run that extended ULM's lead to 27-11. ULM led by as many as 21 points, 33-12, at 6:50 mark.

ULM led 40-24 at halftime after nailing 10-of-15 3-pointers and shooting 63 percent overall (15-of-24). Ertel needed just 20 minutes to eclipse his career high of 26 points in the opening half with 28 points on 8-of-10 shooting from 3-point range.

Ertel made more 3-pointers in the first half alone (8) than he'd made in his last six games combined (7-of-23).

The second half started off with more of the same as Ertel stroked his ninth and 10th 3-pointers in the early going. Ertel's record-breaking 3-pointer fell with 11 minutes remaining in the game, giving him 39 points.

THE LAST MEETING IN THE MITCHELL CENTER –
ULM 66, South Alabama 62 (Feb. 22, 2018, in Mobile, Ala.): Sam McDaniel and Michael Ertel combined for 36 points as ULM extended its Sun Belt winning streak to five games with a 66-62 victory at South Alabama. The Warhawks (14-12) have won seven of their last eight conference games, climbing from 12th (1-6) in the standings into a tie for third place at 8-7.

There were three ties and eight lead changes in the game as ULM recorded its third-straight road win in league play.

South Alabama (14-14, 7-8) jumped out to a 12-9 lead on Joe Thompson's rebound goal with 13:13 left in the first half. ULM put together a 9-0 run to build an 18-12 lead with 10:30 remaining in the opening half, as Marvin Jean-Pierre took a feed from Travis Munnings and finished off the fast break with a layup. A 3-pointer from Jordon Harris out of the left corner sparked a 14-5 spurt as the Warhawks moved out to their largest lead at 32-21 on Ertel's 18-foot jumper from straightaway with 2:46 on the clock. USA closed the first half with a 9-0 run to cut its halftime deficit to 32-30 on Dederick Lee's 3 from the top of the circle.

Ertel's 3-pointer from the right wing gave ULM a 36-30 advantage with 18:30 left in the second half. The Jaguars tied the score at 39 as Josh Ajayi drove the lane for a layup with 13:45 remaining. Jean-Pierre scored off an offensive rebound and followed with a layup as the Warhawks built a 43-39 lead with 12:31 on the clock. USA responded with a 7-2 spurt and regained the lead at 46-45 on Lee's 3-pointer from the top of the circle with 9:40 to play. ULM got back-to-back 3-pointers from McDaniel and Harris to reclaim the lead at 51-46 with 8:53 left. Trailing 53-49, the Jaguars scored seven-straight points to match their largest lead at 56-53 on Trhae Mitchell's reverse layup with 4:01 remaining. Munnings buried a 3-pointer from the top of the circle to tie the score at 56 with 3:47 to play, and he fueled a 9-0 run as ULM seized a 62-56 advantage with 38 seconds left. The Warhawks converted 7-of-10 free-throw attempts over the final 70 seconds to ice the game.

The two teams hit a combined 43-of-116 shots (37 percent) from the field, including 16-of-63 3-point attempts (25 percent).

McDaniel hit 4-of-8 3-pointers and led four ULM starters in double figures with 19 points, followed by Ertel who finished with 17. Jean-Pierre played a solid all-around game, contributing 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Munnings recorded his third double-double of the season and 14th of his career with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Those four starters played the entire 40 minutes.

Sikes, who made 6-of-13 field-goal attempts including 3-of-9 3-pointers, paced the USA attack with 19 points. The Jaguars also got 12 points from Ajayi and 10 from Herb McGee.

THE LAST TIME OUT –
ULM 74, Troy 71 (Feb. 13, 2020, in Troy, Ala.): Michael Ertel scored a game-high 23 points as ULM recorded its first road win of the season and snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 74-71 victory over Troy Thursday night in Trojan Arena. The Warhawks, who opened the new year with a 79-63 home-court win over the Trojans on Jan. 2, also completed the regular-season series sweep over Troy.

ULM (7-17, 3-12 Sun Belt) held the Trojans to a season-low 19 first-half points while building a 15-point halftime advantage (34-19). The Warhawks withstood Troy's 52-point scoring outburst in the second half to earn their first road win in 11 tries.

There were two lead changes and three ties in the first 5:37 of the game. Tahj Small scored seven of his team's first nine points as Troy (9-17, 5-10) jumped out to a 9-4 lead. ULM answered with an 8-0 run and took a 12-9 lead on Erie Olonade's 3-pointer from the right wing with 14:23 remaining in the first half. Leading 14-3, the Warhawks put together a 13-1 spurt and took a 27-14 advantage on D'Andre Bernard's 3 from the left wing with 8:54 on the clock. ULM held Troy without a field goal for 9:37 during one stretch, and the Trojans made just one of their last 16 field-goal attempts in the opening half. The Warhawks outscored the Trojans, 20-6, over the last 13 minutes to build a 34-19 halftime advantage.

ULM limited Troy to 19-percent field-goal shooting (5-of-26) in the first half, including just 2-of-14 (14 percent) from 3-point range.

Ertel scored 16 first-half points, hitting 7-of-13 shots from the field including 2-of-4 3-pointers.

Trailing 54-40, Ty Gordon's 3-point play sparked a 7-0 run and Troy cut its deficit to seven at 54-47 on Small's 3-pointer from the left baseline with 6:03 left in the second half. ULM responded with an 8-3 spurt, with Chris Efretuei scoring six-straight points, as the Warhawks extended their lead to 62-50 with 4:23 remaining. The Trojans put together a 13-5 run and pulled to within 67-63 on a 3-point play from Desmond Williams with 1:33 left. ULM converted 5-of-6 free-throw attempts in the final 15 seconds to ice the game. Williams buried a deep 3 from the top of the circle as Troy cut its deficit to 73-71 with four seconds to go. Olonade converted the first of two free throws to give the Warhawks a 74-71 advantage, and Williams' desperation 3 from 70 feet hit off the back iron as time expired.

ULM and Troy both executed at a high level offensively in the second half, with both teams shooting better than 50 percent from the field. The Warhawks connected on 11-of-20 second-half field-goal attempts (55 percent) while the Trojans made 15-of-27 shots (56 percent) from the floor.

Troy outrebounded ULM, 42-30, and enjoyed a 15-3 edge in second-chance points.

Three other ULM players joined Ertel in double figures, with Olonade scoring a season-high 14 points to go along with a season-best four assists. The Warhawks also got 13 points and eight rebounds from Efretuei and 10 points from Tyree White.

Troy also featured a well-balanced scoring attack, with four players posting double figures, led by Nick Stampley, KJ Simon and Small, who netted 12 points each. Charles Norman added 11 points. Both Simon and Norman went scoreless in the first half. Stampley also grabbed 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, to record his first career double-double.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS –
• Michael Ertel is averaging 20.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four career games against South Alabama. Ertel has scored in double figures in three of those four games, including a career-high 39 points in this season's first meeting. His 11 3-pointers on Jan. 4, 2020, set a ULM single-game record and tied the Sun Belt Conference record for a league game.

• Through 24 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 12 20-point games (7 by Michael Ertel, 3 by JD Williams, 1 by Jalen Hodge and 1 by Tyree White).

• ULM is 5-1 when scoring 70 or more points.

• Eleven of ULM's 24 games have been decided by eight points or less (3-8 record).

• ULM has recorded assists on at least 50 percent of its field goals in 14 games, including 10 of the last 16 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 119 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 847 of ULM's 1,005 all-time wins as a four-year institution.

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
Feb. 13 at Troy: 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: 2 (1-1)

2019-20 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 6-7
Games played on the road: 1-10
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: 1-3
Games played in March: 0-0

When leading at halftime: 6-6
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: 5-15
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-2
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 7-15

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

When hitting more free throws than opponent: 5-6
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 2-11
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-0

When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 2-3
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: 4-1
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: 2-4
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-1

Games decided by five points or less: 2-5
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: 1-4
Last 10 games: 1-9

Largest deficit overcome to win: 5
(9-4 at Troy, Feb. 13)
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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