BOONE, N.C. – App State closed the game on a 19-6 run, including the final nine points of the game, to answer ULM's rally as the Mountaineers defeated the Warhawks, 67-55, in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams Saturday at the Holmes Convocation Center.
 
ULM (4-7 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) trailed by as much as 14, 37-23, in the first half, and by 13, 45-32, in the second half before battling back for the lead. A layup by Tyreese Watson and 3-pointer by Tyreke Locure cut the gap to eight, 45-37, with 16:41 left. Moments later, ULM used an 8-0 run to surge ahead, knocking down four-straight shots, including the go-ahead dunk by Jerry Ngopot to lead 49-48 with 10:16 to play.
 
App State (10-3, 1-0), which entered the game ranked second in NCAA Division I in field goal percentage defense (.363), limited ULM to just six points in the final 10:16. Two free throws by Donovan Gregory put App back in front for good, 50-49. Gregory then ended a seven-plus minute field-goal drought for App with a circus-shot layup to extend the lead to five, 54-49, at the 7:38 mark. The lead moved to eight, 57-49, on a 3-pointer by Terence Harcum with 6:54 left.
 
ULM made one more charge. A 3-pointer by Nika Metskhvarishvili cut the gap to four, 57-53, and a layup by Ngopot got the Warhawks within three, 58-55, with 4:03 to go. However, App State ended the game on a 9-0 run, pulling back away for the 67-55 win.
 
ULM opened the game strong, taking the early lead, 5-3, on a 3-pointer by Jacob Wilson. The Warhawks pushed the lead to five, 12-7, on a trey by Metskhvarishvili with 15:10 to go before halftime. App answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead, going up 16-12 on back-to-back 3-pointer by Myles Tate at the 10:33 mark.
 
App eventually extended the lead to 14, 37-23, on a layup by Tre'Von Spillers with 2:17 left before the break. ULM closed the half on a 9-2 run to cut the gap in half, ending the half on a fadeaway jumper from the left elbow by Watson to get within seven at the half, 39-32.
 
App opened the second half with the first six points, including back-to-back fast break dunks off defensive rebounds, forcing the Warhawks to take a timeout, trailing 45-32.
 
Metskhvarishvili missed his third-straight double-double by one rebound, leading the team with 16 points and nine rebounds. Wilson made his first career start and added 10 points. Gregory led four Mountaineers in double figures with 17 points.
 
ULM shot 37% (23-of-62) from the field, 36% (4-of-11) from 3-point range and hit 5-of-13 free throws (39%). App State shot 42% (25-of-60) overall, hit just 4-of-27 from 3-point range (15%) and knocked down 13-of-16 free throws (81%). ULM outrebounded App State, 42-40, including 15 offensive rebounds for the Warhawks. However, App State outscored ULM in second chance points, 17-8.
 
ULM plays its first home game in 29 days at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Marshall at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.