NORFOLK, Va. – ULM earned its first Sun Belt Conference win of the season and snapped a nine-game losing streak with an 80-73 win over Old Dominion Saturday night at Chartway Arena in the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men's basketball.
 
Tyreke Locure led four Warhawks in double figures with 20 points, while Tyreese Watson added a career-high 16 points (6-of-10 field-goal attempts) for his fourth-straight game with 10-or-more points. Makai Willis had his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Bolden tallied his fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 13 rebounds, with seven coming on the offensive end. Chaunce Jenkins led three Monarchs in double figures with 20 points.
 
ULM (5-12 overall, 1-5 Sun Belt Conference) had one of its best offensive games of the season, shooting 49% (24-of-49) from the field and its six 3-pointers were the most by the team in a game since Dec. 14 at Lamar. The Warhawks dominated the glass, outrebounding Old Dominion (5-14, 1-5), 44-21.
 
After ULM broke a 2-2 tie on a jumper by Savion Gallion, the game was never tied and the Warhawks never trailed.
 
For the fourth straight game, ULM controlled much of the first half. The difference Saturday was the Warhawks maintained the momentum through halftime and never let ODU get within striking distance.
 
ULM expanded the lead to nine, 17-8, on a layup by Willis with 11:58 left in the first half. ODU pulled back within six, 19-13, on free throws by R.J. Blakney. However, the Warhawks responded with the next five points, as Watson's 3-pointer pushed the margin to double digits for the first time, 24-13, with 6:58 remaining in the half.
 
ODU moved within seven, 30-23, with a layup by Jenkins with 3:05 to play before halftime. ULM answered again, as Jerry Ngopot's dunk on an assist from Watson moved the gap back to nine. Watson drilled a 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to give the Warhawks an 11-point halftime lead, 35-24.
 
The Monarchs made a push early in the second half, getting within six, 37-31, on a traditional 3-point play by Jenkins with 18:07 left. Moments later, ULM stretched the lead back to 11 as Locure buried a transition 3-pointer to go up 44-33 at the 16:18 mark. The lead grew to as much as 16, 54-38, on fastbreak jumper in the lane by Locure with 11:09 to play.
 
ODU responded with a quick 8-0 run to cut the deficit in half, forcing ULM to take a timeout with 9:11 left. The two sides then traded points until the Warhawks pushed the lead back to 12, 69-57, on a layup by Watson with 2:47 remaining. ULM hit enough free throws down the stretch to pick up its first win since Dec. 5.
 
ULM returns to Fant-Ewing Coliseum to face South Alabama at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.