ULM Warhawks

ULM (2-2 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference) at Louisiana Tech (1-2 overall, 0-0 Conference USA)
6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 | Thomas Assembly Center | Ruston, Louisiana
WATCH: CUSA.tv | LISTEN: 105.3 FM KLIP | LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES

MONROE, La. - The ULM Warhawks start a busy stretch to end the month of November, playing four games in eight days, beginning with a 6 p.m. tip-off Monday at Louisiana Tech.

ULM (2-2 overall) lost 95-60 at No. 15/18 TCU on Thursday. The Horned Frogs scored 12 of the first 14 points and never let ULM closer than seven points the rest of the way. Tyreke Locure was the only scorer in double figures with 14 points for ULM. Thomas Howell led ULM on the glass with six rebounds.

The Warhawks forced 16 TCU turnovers on Thursday, leading to 22 points. ULM outscored the Horned Frogs, 22-13, in points off turnovers. The Warhawks also had the advantage in second-chance points, 16-13.

Graduate guard Jamari Blackmon returned to the lineup at TCU after missing the contest against Central Baptist on Nov. 14. Blackmon had nine points (3-of-6 field-goal attempts), knocking down two 3-pointers, and had one assist.

Through Sunday's games, ULM continues to show as one of the best rebounding teams in the country early in the season. The Warhawks are 34th in NCAA Division I and third among Sun Belt Conference teams in rebounds per game (42.50) and are 11th in Division I and second in the SBC in offensive rebounds per game (15.50). Junior forward Nika Metskhvarishvili ranks ninth in the SBC at 7.0 rebounds per game.

Graduate center Victor Bafutto has registered multiple blocked shots in all four games this season. He had two more blocks on Thursday at No. 15/18 TCU. He ranks 22nd nationally and third in the SBC with 10 blocks, and is 26th nationally and third in the SBC with 2.50 blocks per game.

MONDAY'S GAME BASICS    
ULM continues a stretch of five-consecutive games away from Fant-Ewing Coliseum with a trip down I-20 Monday to face Louisiana Tech. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston.

The Warhawks (2-2 overall) are coming off a 95-60 loss at No. 15/18 TCU last Thursday. The Horned Frogs took control early, scoring 12 of the first 14 points while knocking down 10-of-20 3-pointers in the contest. Tyreke Locure was the only ULM player in double figures with 14 points, while Nika Metskhvarishvili and Jamari Blackmon had nine points each.

Louisiana Tech (1-2 overall) lost its last outing on Thursday at the Ragin' Cajuns, 94-88, inside the Cajundome in Lafayette. The Bulldogs led for most of the game, but the Cajuns rallied in the second half for the victory. LA Tech led, 42-35, at halftime. The Bulldogs stretched the lead to 11, 72-61, with 8:55 to play on a dunk by Cobe Williams. However, the Cajuns used an 11-0 run to tie the game and then later used an 8-0 run to get in front and held on for the 94-88 win. Williams had a career-high 26 points and Isaiah Crawford added 18 for the Bulldogs.

LA Tech leads the series, 55-36, after last year's 96-74 win over ULM in the Lanky Wells Classic in Ruston. The Bulldogs have won the last nine meetings with ULM, stretching back to the 2008-09 season. ULM last defeated LA Tech, 100-89, on Jan. 28, 1991, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks last won in Ruston on Jan. 28, 1982, a 76-66 victory in Memorial Gymnasium. LA Tech is 16-0 against ULM at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Monday's game will stream on CUSA.tv. The game will also air on 105.3 FM KLIP, la105.com and the TuneIn app on the Warhawk Radio Network from Learfield with Mike Hammett on the play-by-play.

PREVIEWING LA TECH    
Louisiana Tech is 1-2 overall after Thursday's 94-88 loss at the Ragin' Cajuns. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 78-61 victory over Mississippi College on Nov. 7 and followed it with a 64-55 loss at No. 23 Texas Tech on Nov. 14.

The Bulldogs are led by head coach Talvin Hester, who is in his first season as the head coach at LA Tech. He spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Texas Tech, as the Red Raiders reached the NCAA Sweet 16. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for three seasons at LA Tech, from 2018-21. Louisiana Tech is Hester's first head coaching job. He has spent time over the last 20 years as an assistant at Oral Roberts, Houston, Texas State, Stephen F. Austin, San Jose State, Prairie View A&M, Texas College, Texas Wesleyan and Northlake College, as well as a brief stint with the Texas Rim Rockers of the USBL.

Cobe Williams leads LA Tech in scoring at 19.3 points per game while also averaging 3.0 rebounds per game. He is shooting 57.6% from the field (19-of-33) and 7-of-14 from 3-point range. He had a career-high 26 points in the loss to the Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday, while totaling 16 points in each contest against Mississippi College and Texas Tech. He also added four rebounds, four assists and four steals against Mississippi College.

Keaston Willis is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game and has 5.0 rebounds per game to lead the club. He opened the season with 20 points and three assists against Mississippi College. He has at least six rebounds in each of the last two games, scoring nine points in each contest against Texas Tech and the Ragin' Cajuns.

Isaiah Crawford is the third Bulldog in double figures at 12.0 points per game. He is shooting 65.2% from the floor (15-of-23). He scored 12 points with five rebounds against Mississippi College and added 18 points with four steals at the Ragin' Cajuns.

Jordan Crawford leads the team in assists, averaging 4.0 assists per game while scoring 8.0 points per game. He had 15 points and three assists in the opener against Mississippi College. He scored seven points with six assists at Texas Tech.

SERIES HISTORY VS. LOUISIANA TECH
Monday's game marks the 92nd meeting between ULM and Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 55-36 (.604), including a 34-11 record in games played in Ruston. LA Tech is a perfect 16-0 against the Warhawks in games played in the Thomas Assembly Center. ULM's last win in Ruston came on Jan. 28, 1982, 76-66, in Memorial Gymnasium.

Overall, LA Tech has won the last eight games in the series (2008-13; 2020-21), including a home-and-home sweep in 2020-21 (78-62 in Ruston and 68-57 in Monroe) and last season's win in the Lanky Wells Classic (96-74 in Ruston). ULM's last win in the series came on Jan. 28, 1991, a 100-89 victory in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, as the Warhawks posted their highest point total against the Bulldogs in a regulation game.

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 fourth on LA Tech's all-time list.
 
SEVEN WARHAWKS IN DOUBLE FIGURES IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES
ULM put seven players in double figures in back-to-back games against Central Baptist on Nov. 14 and Dallas Baptist on Nov. 10. 

Nika Metskhvarishvili led the Warhawks against Central Baptist with 15 points. Victor Bafutto came off the bench to match a career-high with 14 points (6-of-6 field-goal attempts). Tyreke Locure and Savion Gallion added 13 points apiece. Thomas Howell and Langston Powell posted 12 points each. Devon Hancock picked up 11 points (4-of-5 field-goal attempts).

In the previous game against Dallas Christian, Locure (19 points), Howell (14 points), Gallion (12 points), Bafutto (11 points) and Metskhvarishvili (10 points) were all part of another effort with seven players in double figures. Jalen Bolden scored 13 points and Jamari Blackmon, who missed the Central Baptist game with an injury, had 10 points.

WARHAWKS ACHIEVE BIG NUMBERS AGAINST DALLAS CHRISTIAN
In the home opener against Dallas Chrisitan on Nov. 10, 2022, ULM put up big numbers in several stat categories. The Warhawks put seven players in double figures in the win, marking the first time ULM had put at least six players in double figures since Nov. 16, 2021. ULM also tallied 32 assists in the victory, marking the most assists for the Warhawks since tallying a school-record 34 assists against Arkansas-Monticello on Dec. 3, 1996. ULM also pulled down 27 offensive rebounds in the win, which marks the most since at least the 2009-10 season.

METSKHVARISHVILI NAMED PRESEASON THIRD-TEAM ALL-SUN BELT    
ULM junior forward Nika Metskhvarishvili was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason Third Team following a vote of the conference's head coaches. 

Through four games, Metskhvarishvili leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game and is second in scoring at 11.0 points per game. The Tbilisi, Georgia, native opened the season with 10 points and nine rebounds on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M before following it up with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 10 against Dallas Christian. He added a team-high 15 points with five rebounds against Central Baptist on Nov. 14. He had nine points, four rebounds and two blocks at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.
 
A potential breakout player, Metskhvarishvili appeared in 28 games with five starts in his first season at ULM as a second-year sophomore, averaging 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He totaled 12 double-figure scoring games, including four games with 20-or-more points and had a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards at Texas State. He scored a career-high 23 points while playing 40 minutes at UT Arlington on Jan. 15.
 
He scored in double figures in five consecutive games from Jan. 8-22, and improved inside SBC action, averaging 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

"We need Nika to have a really good year," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "We think he can and he wants to. He could be an all-conference player in this league."

HOWELL RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON INSIDE
ULM sophomore forward Thomas Howell is back for his third season with the Warhawks in 2022-23. He is the only returning starter from the 2021-22 team. Through four games, he is averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

After struggling to two points and five rebounds in the season opener Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, the Natchitoches, Louisiana, native bounced back. He scored 14 points (7-of-10 field-goal attempts) with six rebounds against Dallas Christian on Nov. 10. He followed it up with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists against Central Baptist on Nov. 14. He tallied six points and led the team with six rebounds at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.

Howell came into the program as a freshman and has steadily evolved his game. He started 30 of 31 games as a second-year freshman in 2021-22, averaging 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 59.4 percent (107-of-180) from the field, ranking as the sixth-best field-goal percentage in a single season in program history. Howell led the Warhawks with 44 offensive rebounds and scored in double figures 10 times.

"I just want Thomas to progress like he has the past two years," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "If you look from high school to his freshman year, he improved. If you look from his freshman year to the next year, he improved. I want him to take another step and I think he will. Without putting undue pressure on him, he doesn't have to be anybody but himself and keep improving. In this day and time when you get guys three years in your program, that's a luxury now."

POWELL, WILLIAMS PART OF RETURNING GROUP
ULM senior guard Langston Powell and sophomore guard Johnnie Williams IV complete the group of four returning players for the 2022-23 squad.

A local product from West Monroe High School, Powell has battled injuries throughout his career. Last year, he played in 27 games with nine starts as a second-year junior, averaging 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. 

Through four games, Powell is averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He opened the 2022-23 season with three points, two rebounds and two steals on Nov. 7 against Texas A&M. He added seven points (3-of-3 field-goal attempts), four rebounds and one block on Nov. 10 vs. Dallas Christian. He had his first double-figure performance of the year against Central Baptist on Nov. 14, going for 12 points and two rebounds.

"Before his second injury, he's finally starting to look like he looked then, which is a really athletic player who knows how to play on the floor," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "He knows who he is as a player. He's a good returner to have back, and he's done well out here in the preseason."

A native of Sarasota, Florida, Williams played in 12 games with one start last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. He played the final 5:36 of the game on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, scoring three points on ULM's second 3-pointer of the night. He had five points, including a put-back slam dunk, and one rebound on Nov. 10 vs. Dallas Christian. He had three points, one rebound and two assists on Nov. 14 vs. Central Baptist.

SIX TRANSFERS HIGHLIGHT NEWCOMERS    
Nine newcomers have arrived to bolster the 2022-23 Warhawks team, with six of them having previous NCAA Division I experience including 6-10 center Victor Bafutto (Mercer transfer), 6-0 guard Jamari Blackmon (North Alabama transfer), 6-11 forward AD Diedhiou (UAB transfer), 6-4 guard Savion Gallion (South Plains College/Buffalo transfer), 6-3 guard Devon Hancock (Milwaukee transfer) and 6-0 guard Tyreke Locure (UAB transfer).

ULM expects big things from the new additions, especially the combo guard Locure. He spent last season at UAB but began his collegiate career at Sun Belt Conference rival South Alabama, where he started 34 of 49 games over two seasons. As a sophomore in 2020-21, Locure started 25 of 26 games and averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

"He's already averaged double figures at South Alabama two years ago," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "He's proven that he can score in this league."

Locure has speed and a versatile offensive skillset that can fill up a box score.

"He's a scoring guard, make no mistake about it," Richard said. "It's all about scoring with him. He can bounce around from two to one."

Locure leads the team at 13.5 points per game through four games, including 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He had a tough start to the season on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, scoring seven points on 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-7 from 3-point range. He added five rebounds, two assists and one steal. He bounced back with a huge game on Nov. 10 vs. Dallas Christian with a team-high 19 points (3-of-5 3-point field goals), eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. He had 13 points with three rebounds and four assists against Central Baptist on Nov. 14. He paced ULM with 14 points at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.

Blackmon will supplement ULM's options at point guard. He played four seasons at North Alabama, ranking as the sixth all-time leading scorer in UNA history with 1,346 points after starting 111 of 113 career games from 2018-22. He came off the bench on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M and matched Nika Metskhvarishvili for the team lead with 10 points while adding four rebounds, three steals and one assist. He picked up 10 points, matched a career-high with nine assists, tallied five steals and added three rebounds on Nov. 10 against Dallas Christian. After missing a game due to injury, he returned to the lineup at No. 15/18 TCU with nine points on Nov. 17.

"He's a great defender, a good scorer," Richard said. "At North Alabama, I think he scored over 1,300 points. He's a scorer and gets to the foul line a lot, as opposed to Elijah, who is more run the team and shoot 3-point shots; this kid is more physical defensively. He gets fouled a lot and can knock down the occasional three. It gives us another guy up there."

Bafutto and Diedhiou bring size to the roster that ULM was missing a year ago.

"We're going to need it," Richard said. "There were games last year where Thomas or Nika at the five was not good in that particular game. It wasn't every game, but there were some where the other team's players were just bigger and stronger and they got that offensive rebound, just because they were bigger and taller.

"So, we signed both those kids with the thought that we don't want that to happen anymore."

Bafutto has played in all four games, averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He made his season debut on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, scoring four points with two rebounds while adding a career-high three blocks. He exploded for 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks on Nov. 10 vs. Dallas Christian. He went for 14 points (6-of-6 field-goal attempts) and nine rebounds against Central Baptist on Nov. 14. He picked up three points, five rebounds and two blocks at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.

"He's 6-10, not a big jumper, but he has a 7-3 wingspan," Richard said. "Just those arms have bothered some of our guys in practice. We get both of them out there, it just gives us a stronger team."

Richard identified Hancock and Gallion as "key players" because of their experience and ability. Both players were in the season opening starting lineup on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M. 

Gallion has started all four games, averaging 9.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He had nine points on the strength of a 7-of-8 night at the free-throw line against Texas A&M on Nov. 7. He followed it up with 12 points and two assists on Nov. 10 against DCC, before adding 13 points and three rebounds against CBC on Nov. 14.

Hancock has played in all four games with two starts, averaging 6.0 points and 2.0 assists per game. He was scoreless with one rebound, one assist and one steal in 18 minutes at Texas A&M, but came off the bench for eight points and five assists against DCC on Nov. 10. Due to Blackmon's injury, he had a second starting assignment against CBC and responded with 11 points (4-of-5 field-goal attempts) and two rebounds. He had five rebounds and four assists off the bench at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.

"They are two good-looking guards, who look like what we play against in the Sun Belt," Richard said. "They're both here for a reason, just like a lot of guys when they transfer. They're here because for whatever reason, it didn't work out as well as they wanted it to at their other place. If both of them can work out here, if this is the spot that was good, we have a chance to have a good team. It gives us really good depth on the perimeter and multiple guards we can throw out there."

THREE FRESHMEN ROUND OUT NEWCOMER GROUP    
Three true freshmen complete the nine-player newcomer group for ULM in 2022-23, including 6-4 guard Jalen Bolden (Zachary High School), 6-5 guard Jacob Wilson (Liberty Magnet High School ) and 6-7 walk-on forward Edwin Litolff (Doyle High School).

Bolden led Zachary to back-to-back Class 5A Championships in 2021 and '22 and averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. He was the Class 5A Player of the Year in and selected the Outstanding Player in the Class 5A Championship Game after posting 23 points and 11 rebounds in an 84-63 victory over Northshore. 

Through four games, Bolden is averaging 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He made his collegiate debut on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, scoring six points with one rebound and one steal at Texas A&M. He had his first double-figure game on Nov. 10 against Dallas Christian, scoring 13 points (5-of-7 field-goal attempts, 3-of-3 3-pointers) with four rebounds and two steals. He picked up eight points and eight rebounds on Nov. 14 against Central Baptist.

"He's coming here with a Sun Belt body," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "He's strong, one of the things that happens to freshmen sometimes, is the players are stronger than they thought it would be or even ready for physically. Because of his body, he's a strong player. That's going to give him the opportunity to play earlier."

Wilson was a First-Team All-State Class 4A selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and Second-Team All-State by the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game as a high school senior. He was selected to play in the Louisiana East-West All-Star Game.
 
Wilson scored 1,875 career points, pulled down 646 rebounds, handed out 469 assists and totaled 272 steals, helping the Liberty Magnet Patriots to a Division II state semifinals appearance in 2021 and a state runner-up finish in 2022. 

Wilson has played in three games, missing the Nov. 10 game against Dallas Christian. He made his collegiate debut on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, playing 11 minutes while tracking down three rebounds with one steal and one assist. He had four points and six rebounds on Nov. 14 against Central Baptist. He had six points at No. 15/18 TCU on Nov. 17.
 
"Adding Jacob is an intriguing addition to our program," Richard said. "He is a 6-5 player who handles the ball well and can play multiple positions who we think can help us. It was widely recognized that Jacob and Jalen were two of the top senior high school prospects in the state last year."

Litolff finished his high school career as a small forward at Doyle after playing three seasons at Holden High School. He made his collegiate debut on Nov. 10 vs. Dallas Christian, scoring two points with two rebounds. He also saw time against Central Baptist on Nov. 14.