JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to claim a 12-point lead, but ULM's comeback effort fell short as the Dolphins defeated the Warhawks, 75-65, Monday afternoon at Swisher Gymnasium.
 
ULM (4-6 overall) led by 11 at halftime, 35-24, and expanded the lead to 14, 38-24, on a layup by Jalen Bolden and a free throw by AD Diedhiou to open the second half. Jacksonville (8-4) then used a tenacious defensive attack and blistering shooting to reverse the fortunes, going on a 31-5 run over the next 10:25 to build a 12-point lead, 55-43, on a layup by Robert McCray. JU hit five 3-pointers in the stretch, taking the lead for good on a trey by Zach Bell with 12:28 to go, going ahead 45-42.
 
The Warhawks got off the mat and pushed JU down the stretch. A 7-0 run got ULM back in the game. Nika Metskhvarishvili bookended the run with a layup and a 3-pointer to cut the gap to four, 60-56, with 5:50 remaining.
 
The Warhawks made another surge moments later. Metskhvarishvili picked up a tip-in, and Savion Gallion sunk two free throws to pull ULM within two, 64-62, with 3:34 to go. ULM picked up a defensive stop, but a missed layup on the next possession proved to be the Warhawks' only chance to tie the game. A dunk by Stephon Payne III at the other end extended the JU lead back to four, 66-62. ULM was never within one possession again, with the Dolphins building the lead back out to 10 in the final minute.
 
ULM scored the first six points of the game, with four from Diedhiou, and led 6-0 at the first media timeout with 15:31 to go before halftime.
 
JU responded out of the media timeout, going on an 11-2 run to take an 11-8 lead. The Dolphins extended the margin to 16-10 on a 3-pointer by Jarius Cook with 9:28 left in the half.
 
ULM battled back with six straight points, including four from Jerry Ngopot and a baseline jumper from Makai Willis, to knot the game at 16.
 
The Warhawks took the lead on a 3-point play by Tyreese Watson, going up 21-20, with 4:29 left in the half. ULM ended the half with a 10-1 run, holding the Dolphins without a field goal for the final 3:18. Metskhvarishvili scored four points in the run, while Tyreke Locure canned back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 35-24 at halftime.
 
Metskhvarishvili posted his second-straight double-double for ULM with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Gallion added 12 points as all nine Warhawks that played in the game scored. Marcus Niblack led Jacksonville with a game-high 29 points while stuffing the stat sheet with seven assists, seven steals and six rebounds. Cook and McCray added 11 points apiece.
 
ULM shot 37% (22-of-60) from the field, and just 30% (8-of-27) in the second half. The Warhawks added a 22% (4-of-18) rate from 3-point range and 63% (17-of-27) at the free throw line. Jacksonville shot 45% (22-of-49) from the floor and 57% (8-of-14) from 3-point range, including a 68% (15-of-22) clip from the field and 6-of-8 from deep in the second half. The Dolphins shot 70% (23-of-33) at the line. ULM committed 18 turnovers to 15 for JU. The Warhawks outrebounded Jacksonville, 34-31.
 
ULM is off until Dec. 30, when they open Sun Belt Conference play at App State.