MONROE, La. – ULM struggled from the field all night, but thanks to a strong defensive and rebounding effort, still had a chance to win in the final moments, but App State held off the Warhawk rally for a 52-45 win Thursday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
ULM (11-15 overall, 7-6 Sun Belt Conference) shot a season low 25.4% (15-of-59) from the field and shot just 23% (5-of-22) from 3-point range on the night. Free throws helped keep the Warhawks in the game, hitting 10-of-14 attempts (71%). App State (14-12, 7-6) didn't fare much better, shooting 39.6% (19-of-48) from the field and 26% (6-of-23) from 3-point range, while knocking down 8-of-14 free throws (57%).
 
"We have to find a way to do better scoring inside the 3-point line, as we've talked about for two games now," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "It really came into play today again. It's just a struggle to find points in there. It seems like when we did get a good opportunity, we'd miss it."
 
Both teams struggled from the floor in much of the first half, with App slowly building a 16-10 lead on a 3-pointer by CJ Huntley with 9:35 left in the first half. ULM cut the gap back to two on a free throw by Devon Hancock to make it 16-14 at the 5:29 mark. App then went on a 12-0 run to gain its first double-digit lead, taking a 14-point lead on a dunk by Huntley with 2:15 to go in the half. App led at halftime, 31-19.
 
App scored the first five points of the second half, using another 3-pointer by Huntley and a jumper by Justin Abson, to go up 17, 36-19, with 17:12 left. ULM started its rally there, going on a 7-0 run with Jamari Blackmon sinking a 3-pointer and Tyreke Locure taking a defensive rebound for a fastbreak layup to get within 10, 36-26, forcing an App timeout.
 
The Mountaineers maintained their lead, with App leading 43-34 with 10:09 to play. The Warhawks launched a 7-0 run with Langston Powell connecting on a 3-pointer, Blackmon knocking down two free throws and Locure hitting a tough jumper outside the lane to cut the deficit to two, 43-41, with 6:24 to go. However, ULM never tied the game or took the lead. A layup by Donovan Gregory pushed App's lead back to four, 47-43, with 3:56 left. Neither team scored again until the 1:10 mark, when Tyree Boykin sank a free throw for the Mountaineers. Locure made a layup with 31 seconds left to get ULM back within three, but ULM never had a possession with a chance to tie or take the lead.
 
"We fought real hard," Richard said. "We held them to 52 points. We held them to 40% from the field, 27% from the 3-point line. Those are winning numbers from the defensive end. It's a shame that we couldn't put together any more offense than we did."
 
Locure had 13 points to lead ULM, while Thomas Howell added a career-high 16 rebounds and Victor Bafutto had 11 boards and seven points. Huntley led App with 11 points while Abson had 10 rebounds.
 
ULM faces first-place Southern Miss at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Hattiesburg.