ULM Opens Home-and-Home Series at Ragin’ Cajuns Thursday

Men's Basketball Feb 10

2020-21 ULM Basketball Notes: Games 20-21 vs. Ragin' Cajuns

Saturday, Feb. 13 Game | General Admission Tickets ($10)

STORYLINE –
ULM (4-15, 2-10 SBC) opens a Sun Belt Conference home-and-home series at the Ragin' Cajuns (13-6, 7-5 SBC) on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. The series concludes Saturday, Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

Since opening Sun Belt play with a home sweep against Arkansas State, the Warhawks have lost 10 league games in a row, including six by a combined total of 26 points. ULM is seeking its first win since Jan. 2 (62-55 over A-State).

ULM's starting lineup features two double-figure scorers, in forward Russell Harrison (13.3 ppg., 5.7 rpg.) and guard Koreem Ozier (12.2 ppg., 4.5 rpg.). Ozier needs 12 points to reach the 1,000-point career milestone (scored 756 points in 54 games at Sacred Heart before transferring to ULM).

THE STARTING FIVE –
• Junior forward Russell Harrison leads ULM in scoring (13.3 points per game), rebounding (5.7 rpg.) and 3-point field goals made (32). The 6-foot-7 Harrison has scored in double figures in 14 of 17 games in 2020-21. He missed the weekend Sun Belt series at Little Rock after traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to celebrate the birth of his first child, son Zyren.

Harrison ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 20 in four different statistical categories: sixth in free-throw percentage (.815), 12th in scoring, 14th in rebounding and 14th in 3-point field goals made (1.9 pg.).

He recorded his first career double-double as a Warhawk in the series finale at UTA, finishing with 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

Harrison came off the bench for the first time this season in the series finale against Texas State and contributed 21 points (5-of-14 3-pointers), six rebounds and four assists.

The Lubbock native scored a season-high 22 points and collected nine rebounds in the home opener against Lamar.

• Junior guard Koreem Ozier ranks second on the team in scoring (12.2 points per game), 3-point field goals made (30), rebounding (4.5 rpg.), assists (52) and steals (25). The 6-foot-1 Ozier ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in minutes played (fourth at 34.2 pg.) and scoring (21st).

He is averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists per game in Sun Belt play while shooting 45 percent (57-of-128) from the field, including 36 percent (21-of-59) from behind the 3-point arc.

A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Ozier needs 12 points to reach the 1,000-point career milestone. He scored 756 points in 54 games at Sacred Heart University before transferring to ULM.

Ozier, who ranks as the only Warhawk to have started all 19 games, has posted double figures 11 times, including seven straight during one stretch. He scored a season-high 28 points in ULM's 66-55 victory over SFA, hitting 9-of-13 shots from the floor, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and all six free-throw attempts.

• Junior guard Elijah Gonzales leads the Warhawks in assists (63) and steals (37). The 5-foot-11 Gonzales also has made 16-of-35 3-point field-goal attempts (.457).

The transfer from Clarendon College ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (second at 2.4), steals (seventh at 1.9 per game) and assists (10th at 3.3 pg.).

Gonzales has posted double figures in scoring three times, including 16 points each against Stephen F. Austin and in the series finale at Arkansas State (6-of-11 FG shooting).

• In league games, ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.1), free-throw percentage (fourth at .741), assists (fourth at 14.3 pg.), turnover margin (fourth at +1.2 pg.), steals (fifth at 7.1 pg.) scoring defense (sixth at 68.7 ppg.) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (sixth at .353).

• Throughout preseason practice, ULM head coach Keith Richard noted the improved depth on the 2020-21 roster. Take a look at his playing rotation through the first 19 games and you'll see nine different players are logging at least 13.8 minutes per game. In addition, the Warhawk bench has outscored the opponent's reserves in 11 of the first 19 games while providing 21.8 points per game. The bench has accounted for more than 30 points in three games: 36 points in the series finale at Arkansas State, a season-high 39 points in ULM's 84-72 victory over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference opener and 38 in a 92-83 overtime win at Northwestern State. In last weekend's series at UTA, ULM held a 38-10 advantage in bench scoring.

ULM/RAGIN' CAJUNS SERIES NOTES –
Thursday's game marks the 82nd meeting between ULM and ULL. The Ragin' Cajuns lead the all-time series, 53-28, including a 33-6 record in games played in Lafayette. ULL has won the eight of the last 14 meetings in the series. Eight of the last 14 meetings have been decided by nine points or less. ULM's last win in the Cajundome came on Jan. 19, 2015, 57-55.

In 2019-20, ULM and ULL split the regular-season series with each team winning on its homecourt (ULL won 81-60 in the Cajundome; ULM won 83-77 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum).

2019-20 REGULAR-SEASON RECAPS –
Ragin' Cajuns 81, ULM 60 (Jan. 25, 2020, in Lafayette, La.): 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. The transfer from St. Louis U. also added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and blocked three shots.

There were three ties and two lead changes in the first half. ULM missed its first six field-goal attempts as the Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 5-0 lead. A transition layup from JD Williams sparked an 11-3 run as the Warhawks took an 11-8 lead on Tyree White's 3-pointer from the left wing with 13:42 left. Unfortunately, Williams twisted his left ankle after scoring ULM's first basket and left the game at the 16:41 mark.

Johnson scored 11 points during a 14-3 spurt as the Ragin' Cajuns moved out to a 22-14 advantage on his 3-pointer from the left wing with 8:51 remaining in the opening half. Michael Ertel buried back-to-back 3s as ULM answered with an 11-4 run of its own to cut its deficit to 26-25 with 5:21 on the clock. The Ragin' Cajuns (8-13, 3-7 Sun Belt) outscored the Warhawks, 10-2, down the stretch and took a 36-27 lead into the locker room, thanks to Mason Aucoin's 3-pointer from the right corner as time expired in the first half.

ULM (6-13, 2-8) went scoreless for 3:11 and made just one of its last 11 field-goal attempts to close out the first half.

The Warhawks got a three-point play from Jalen Hodge and a layup from Langston Powell to open the second half and pulled to within four points at 36-32 with 18:34 left. P.J. Hardy's 3-pointer from the right wing keyed a 13-4 run as the Ragin' Cajuns built a 49-36 lead on Cedric Russell's pull-up trey from the right wing with 15:27 to play. ULM managed to pull to within eight at 49-41 on Tyree White's slam dunk on a nifty pass from Ertel with 13:48 remaining, but the Warhawks failed to close the margin any further. The Ragin' Cajuns regained control, thanks to a 10-0 spurt, and built a 61-43 advantage on Tirus Smith's three-point play with 10:55 to go. ULM went scoreless for 3:37 during that stretch. Johnson's third 3-pointer gave ULL its largest lead at 81-59 with 1:57 on the clock.

The Ragin' Cajuns also got 11 points from Smith and 10 from Russell. ULL outscored ULM, 26-11, from the free-throw line.

Four Warhawks scored in double figures, led by Tyree White who recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Ertel finished with 13 points, Hodge 12 and Powell 10.

ULM 83, Ragin' Cajuns 77 (Feb. 22 in Monroe, La.): Michael Ertel scored a game-high 22 points to lead all five ULM starters in double figures as the Warhawks earned a regular-season series split against the Ragin' Cajuns with an 83-77 victory before a season-best crowd of 3,363 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

ULM (9-18, 5-13 Sun Belt) scored over 80 points for only the second time last season.

Chris Efretuei scored ULM's first six points and eight of the first 13 as the Warhawks jumped out to a 13-5 lead. Erie Olonade's 3-pointer from the top of the circle sparked a 10-4 spurt as ULM built a 10-point advantage at 28-18 on Tyree White's 3 from straightaway with 9:25 remaining in the first half. The Ragin' Cajuns answered with a 19-5 run and took a 37-33 lead on Kristian Lafayette's layup with 3:52 on the clock. The Warhawks went 4:21 between field goals, hitting just 1-of-8 shots, during the stretch. Cedric Russel's 3 from the right wing gave Louisiana Lafayette its largest lead at 43-38 with 50 seconds to play in the opening half. ULM trimmed its halftime deficit to 43-41 on Langston Powell's 3-ball from the left wing with 37 seconds left.

Thirteen of the 14 lead changes and seven of the 10 ties came in the second half. The teams were separated by no more than four points until the final minute of play.

Wesley's 3-pointer from the top of the circle gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 55-51 lead with 12:10 to play in the game. The Warhawks put together a 9-3 spurt and regained the lead at 60-58 on White's 3 from the top of the circle with 9:15 on the clock. Ertel buried a 3-pointer from the right wing to give ULM a 73-71 lead with 2:20 remaining. ULL (11-17, 6-11) pulled even again at 73-all as Wesley converted both ends of a one-and-one with 1:46 left. Olonade's 3 from straightaway gave the Warhawks the lead for good at 76-73 with 1:29 to play and fueled a 7-0 run as ULM opened up an 80-73 advantage with 13 seconds to go. Ertel hit six-straight free throws in the final 20 seconds to ice the game.

Ertel posted 16 of his 22 points in the second half, including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.

ULM's other four starters scored in double figures, including White who finished with 18 points, Efretuei who added a season high 15, Olonade who contributed 12 and Powell who netted 11.

White hit 6-of-12 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, to go along with six rebounds and three assists.

Efretuei, who made 6-of-11 field-goal attempts, also collected a team-high eight rebounds, with seven coming off the offensive glass.

Powell also tallied a season-high six assists.

As a team, ULM recorded 19 assists on 26 made field goals. The Warhawks outscored ULL, 20-7, from the free-throw line and outrebounded the Ragin' Cajuns, 40-34.

Five ULL players also posted double figures, led by Wesley who scored 16 points off the bench, followed by Jalen Johnson who tossed in 15, Russell who added 12, P.J. Hardy who netted 11 and Dou Gueye who chipped in with 10.

WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (50): Russell Harrison 14, Koreem Ozier 11, Josh Nicholas 9, Marco Morency 5, Elijah Gonzales 3, Thomas Howell 3, Chris Efretuei 2, Luke Phillips 2, Johnnie Williams 1. Opponents: 62.

20-point games (5). Russell Harrison 2, Koreem Ozier 2, Josh Nicholas 1. Opponents: 6.

Double-figure rebounding games (1): Russell Harrison 1. Opponents: 15.

Double-doubles (1): Russell Harrison 1. Opponents: 10.

Games leading ULM in scoring: Russell Harrison 9, Koreem Ozier 7, Josh Nicholas 4, Chris Efretuei 1, Marco Morency 1.

Games leading ULM in rebounding: Russell Harrison 7, Koreem Ozier 4, Luke Phillips 3, Chris Efretuei 2, Marco Morency 2, Thomas Howell 1.

Games leading ULM in assists: Elijah Gonzales 8, Koreem Ozier 6, Russell Harrison 4, Marco Morency 3, Josh Nicholas 3.

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
Dec. 22 vs. Louisiana Tech: Olonade, Ozier, Harrison, Howell, Efretuei
Jan. 1 vs. Arkansas State: Olonade, Ozier, Harrison, Howell, Efretuei
Jan. 2 vs. Arkansas State: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 8 vs. UT Arlington: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 9 vs. UT Arlington: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 15 at Arkansas State: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 16 at Arkansas State: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 22 vs. Texas State: Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei
Jan. 23 vs. Texas State: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Phillips, Efretuei
Jan. 29 at Little Rock: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Phillips, Efretuei
Jan. 30 at Little Rock: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Phillips, Efretuei
Feb. 5 at UT Arlington: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Feb. 6 at UT Arlington: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei

Different Starting Combinations (7):
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: 3 (0-3)
Olonade, Ozier, Harrison, Howell, Efretuei: 3 (1-2)
Olonade, Ozier, Nicholas, Harrison, Efretuei: 6 (1-5)
Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Phillips, Efretuei: 3 (0-3)

2020-21 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 3-7
Games played on the road: 1-8
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0

Games played in December: 2-5
Games played in January: 2-8
Games played in February: 0-2
Games played in March: 0-0

When leading at halftime: 2-3
When trailing at halftime: 2-12
When tied at halftime: 0-0

When shooting .500 or better from the field: 1-0
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 3-15
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-3
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 4-12

When outrebounding opponent: 1-2
When outrebounded by opponent: 2-13
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0

When hitting more free throws than opponent: 2-3
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 2-11
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-1

When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 3-10
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 1-5
When turnover totals are equal: 0-0

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

When opponent scores less than 50 points: 0-0
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 2-2
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 0-7
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 1-5
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-1

Games decided by five points or less: 0-4
Games decided by 6-10 points: 2-4
Games decided by 11-19 points: 2-6
Games decided by 20 points or more: 0-1

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

Largest deficit overcome to win: 8 (12-4 vs. Arkansas State, Jan. 1)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 13 (38-25 vs. Lamar, Dec. 9)

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ULM Opens Home-and-Home Series at Ragin’ Cajuns Thursday