NATCHITOCHES, La. – A go-ahead jumper with five seconds left gave ULM a 65-63 win over Northwestern State Friday night.
 
"It's a great win," head coach Keith Richard said. "It felt like a conference road win."
 
The game started with a 2-2 score before a three-pointer from Jon Sanders gave the Demons (1-4) the lead. Trailing 7-4, the Warhawks (3-4) scored nine unanswered points which included a Jacob Wilson three-pointer and dunk.
 
NSU cut the lead to two with a pair of baskets from Sanders and JT Warren. Renars Sondors was left wide open for a three-point basket to put ULM up by five. The two teams traded three-point shots with Coltie Young producing for the Warhawks.
 
With a 25-18 score, the Demons slammed down two dunks and made it a one-possession game.  Down 28-24 near the end of the half, NSU had a chance to score with less than 20 seconds left, but Sanders fouled, giving the Warhawks a chance with five seconds remaining. Jalen Bolden turned the ball over, and Sanders got a three-point shot off, but it was no good.
 
ULM started the second half hot with two buckets from Makai Willis. With a 36-31 lead, Wilson drained a three-pointer and Willis tipped in a basket to give ULM a nine-point lead. Threes from Wilson and Watson put the Warhawks up by 11.
 
NSU, with a three-pointer and a tip-in, cut the lead to six. Another tip-in and a three-pointer from Warren resulted in a 10-0 run and a one-point game.
 
The Warhawks stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws and a jumper from Watson. A Bolden three forced the Demons to take a timeout with 7:20 left.
 
"We made some timely shots," Richard said. "Every time they went on a run, we went back ahead with a few shots."
 
With a layup, Northwestern State closed the gap to four. Two ULM free-throws increased its lead, but a jumper and a free-throw by the Demons forced a one-possession game.
 
Jalen Bolden, with a layup and a jumper, put the Warhawks ahead by seven with 3:15 remaining. ULM fouled twice, giving NSU four free throws. Watson added a free throw before a Northwestern State layup made it a two-point game.
 
With 18 seconds on the clock, Addison Patterson made a clutch jumper to tie the game at 63-63. With 11.5 seconds left in the game, the ball was placed in Watson's hands. He held the ball for five seconds before pulling the trigger on a go-ahead jumper. After an unsuccessful heave to the basket by the Demons, the Friday night win for ULM was official.
 
Watson led the team in scoring with 16 points and produced three assists, a mark also reached by Bolden. Bolden also led the team in total rebounds with six, and Willis had a team-leading three steals.
 
"I saw the team that I envisioned at the start of the year," Richard said. "I saw more of it tonight than at other times this year, which is a good sign."
 
The Warhawks are back in action tomorrow for game two of the MTE vs. North Alabama at 4 p.m.