NATCHITOCHES, La. – Ja'Monta Black's career-high 31 points on 7-of-17 3-point field-goal shooting propelled Northwestern State to a 91-73 win over ULM Saturday afternoon at Prather Coliseum. It marked NSU's first win over ULM since 2017, snapping the Warhawks' five-game winning streak in the series.
Both teams shot 44% from the field, but NSU forced 18 ULM turnovers and had 25 offensive rebounds to attempt 29 more shots than the Warhawks. ULM finished 20-of-46 from the field and shot 38% (6-of-16) from 3-point range, while NSU was 33-of-75 from the floor and 33% (11-of-33) from behind the 3-point line. The Warhawks shot 12 more free throws than NSU, hitting 73% from the line (27-of-37) to 56% for the Demons (14-of-25).
"It just makes it tough," ULM head coach
Keith Richard said. "They had 26 points off turnovers. They had 29 more shots than us. Then you take in the long, dagger threes, which we were prepared for. I think it shocked our guys in real action how deep and how quick they were getting them off. They've got three really good guards and they have good complimentary pieces around those three guards."
ULM (3-7 overall) had the early momentum.
Savion Gallion scored seven of his 13 points in the first 6:33, and
Langston Powell hit a layup at the 12:14 mark to give ULM an eight-point lead at 19-11.
However, Northwestern State used a 14-0 run to shoot into the lead and never looked back. Black hit three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Demons the 20-19 lead with 10:32 left in the half. Isaac Haney added the next five points to wrap up the 14-0 run with NSU leading 25-19 with 8:18 to go before the break.
"(Black) hits them so deep, and that allows DeMarcus Sharp to do his thing, backing you down toward the bucket," Richard said. "It's a unique team to defend, to play against."
Jamari Blackmon and
Tyreke Locure canned a 3-pointer each to knot the game back up at 25 with 7:12 remaining in the half, but NSU used a 9-0 run to regain control, capped on Reggie Hill's transition 3-pointer, going up 34-25 with 5:21 left in the half.
ULM chipped away at the deficit, pulling within six on free throws by Blackmon at 39-33 with 1:01 showing on the clock. NSU pushed the lead back to seven at halftime, 41-34.
Natchitoches native
Thomas Howell knocked down a jumper in the lane on the opening possession of the second half to pull ULM within five, 41-36. NSU scored the next six points, with four from DeMarcus Sharp, to push the lead to 11, 47-36. The Warhawks cut the gap to five again on a layup by Howell and free throws by
Victor Bafutto and Locure to get within 47-42 with 16:13 remaining.
Howell's dunk, off a high post feed from Bafutto, with 13:27 to play brought ULM within six, 52-46. The Warhawks would get no closer the rest of the way.
Black seemingly had an answer when NSU needed it. The Missouri State transfer buried back-to-back treys after Howell's jam to give the Demons a 12-point lead, 58-42, with 12:32 to go.
After a free throw by Locure and a 3-pointer by Gallion got the Warhawks within eight, 58-50, Black came up with a steal and layup to extend the lead to 10, 60-50, with 10 minutes left.
A 3-pointer by Locure pulled ULM within eight again, 63-55, with 8:59 to go. However, NSU answered with a 10-0 run that served as the knockout punch, with a layup by Haney giving the Demons an 18-point lead, 73-55, with 6:22 to go. The Warhawks were no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
"We have to keep working at it," Richard said. "It's tough with a bunch of new guys. Tip your hat to Northwestern. They've beat some really good teams. They've been doing to a lot of people."
Following Black's 31 points, Haney had 13, Sharp tallied 11 and Jalen Hampton had 10 for NSU. ULM was led by Howell's near double-double with a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds. Gallion matched his career high with 13 points, while Locure also had 13 and Blackmon tallied 12.
ULM opens a three-game homestand to close non-conference play when Sam Houston visits Fant-Ewing Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
