MONROE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns opened the game on a 19-2 run and ULM never pulled closer than seven points as the Cajuns spoiled the 2,000th game in Warhawk men's basketball program history with an 86-73 win Thursday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
The Cajuns (13-4 overall, 3-2 Sun Belt Conference), ranked in the Top-25 in NCAA Division I in field-goal percentage, 3-point field-goal percentage and scoring offense entering the game, shot 62% (32-of-52) from the field and 53% (9-of-17) from 3-point range while outrebounding ULM (7-11, 3-2), 39-23. The Warhawks shot 45% (28-of-62) from the floor and 28% (5-of-18) from 3-point distance.
 
The Cajuns led by as much as 24 points in the first half at 43-19 with 5:51 left before halftime. ULM closed the first half with an 11-4 spurt, with a pair of free throws by Langston Powell bringing the Warhawks within 17 at halftime, 47-30.
 
"I wish we'd have played the first 15 minutes like we played the second half," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "We had terrible offense and terrible defense against a really good team in the first 15 minutes in the game. The last five minutes of the half, we played better offense, which helped our defense. We talked about that at the half, and played pretty well in the second half."
 
ULM opened the second half with an 8-2 burst, with six points from Powell, to cut the deficit to 12, 50-38, with 17:20 to play. However, the Cajuns took the lead back over 20, going up 21, 65-44, on a 3-pointer by Greg Williams Jr. with 11:34 remaining.
 
The Warhawks made a charge, going on a 10-1 run to cut the gap to 10 on a high-arching fade-away jumper by Tyreke Locure from the left side of the lane with 8:39 left.
 
The Cajuns took the lead back to 15 minutes later when Jordan Brown, the Sun Belt Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, completed a three-point play and Terence Lewis II hit two free throws off a technical foul, with 6:11 left.
 
ULM had one more charge, going on a quick 8-0 run to cut the gap to seven. Savion Gallion knocked down a free throw, while Locure added three free throws and a floater in the lane before Thomas Howell's layup off an assist from Locure brought ULM back to 76-69 with 4:07 to go. However, the Cajuns scored the next six points to push the lead back to 13 and secure the win.
 
"It ended up being too much of a deficit to overcome," Richard said. "We have to learn from the first half."
 
Powell had a career-high 19 points to lead ULM, while Howell and Gallion added 13 points and Locure tallied 12. Brown led the Cajuns with 21 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five assists, while Williams had 18 points, Joe Charles had 12 off the bench, Lewis tallied 11 and Kentrell Garnett had 10.
 
ULM closes a four-game homestand at 2 p.m. Saturday against Texas State. The Warhawks defeated the Bobcats, 57-53, in San Marcos on Dec. 29.