MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team dropped its third-straight game as the Warhawks fell to UTA, 84-70, on Monday (Dec. 2) night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
ULM (3-7) was held to 35.4% shooting from the floor and 27.8% from beyond the arc while the Mavs (4-5) drained 15 shots from long distance on 30-for-66 shooting. The Warhawks missed 11 free throws and committed 15 turnovers in the defeat.
 
"It was a poor performance offensively by our team," said Keith Richard. "We struggled offensively and then their 3-point shooting broke our backs defensively. We have to find a way out of our offensive struggles."
 
Tyreese Watson and Jacob Wilson finished with 16 points, which were season highs for both players. Jalen Bolden recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Makai Willis contributed 10 points and secured eight rebounds.
 
For UTA, Lance Ware led the way with a game-high 17 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Jaxon Ellingsworth netted 16 points while Jaden Wells and Darius Buford also reached double figures.
 
ULM started the scoring with a layup from AD Diedhiou before the Mavs responded with a layup of their own. After a Maverick turnover, Tyreese Watson scored an and-one jumper and converted with the free throw to put the Warhawks up, 9-6.
 
With the game tied 11-11 with 10:41 left in the first half, Troy Hupstead of UTA drilled a three-pointer to pull UTA into the lead. Trailing 15-13, Coltie Young drove the basketball to the rim on a fast break to even the score.
 
UT Arlington took a four-point lead with a three-pointer on a fast break. Bolden cut the deficit to two with a pair of free throws with 8:17 to play in the half. Bolden continued the scoring and tied the game with a second-chance layup.
 
Brody Robinson gave the Mavericks a 22-19 lead with a three-pointer following the timeout. After a free throw by Watson, Wilson drained the Warhawks' first three of the night. A driving layup by Watson gave ULM a one-point lead with 5:30 in the first half.
 
After a three-pointer from UTA, Bolden sunk in a three-pointer of his own and the Warhawks went back ahead. The Mavericks once again responded with a three-pointer to regain control.
 
ULM tied the game at 30-30 with a minute to go in the first. In the final seconds, UT Arlington added two baskets, including a layup with less than five seconds to go, to solidify a four-point lead at the break.
 
Both teams began the second half with electric buckets, as Ware threw down a dunk off a steal for UTA and Willis cashed in a three-pointer for ULM. Ware continued his scoring for the Mavericks with a layup and a free throw. With two three-pointers, UTA held a double-digit lead for the first time of the night at 45-35. The Warhawks answered with a three of their own after Wilson swished his second triple of the night.
 
With another three-pointer and a dunk, UTA went up 50-38 with 14:59 left. It led by as much as 15 with a 55-40 score before ULM scored six of the next nine points to make it a 12-point game.
 
With a 9-3 scoring run, the Mavericks took possession of an 18-point lead with 8:51 to play. After a three-pointer, the deficit increased to 25 points with 5:12 left. The closest the Warhawks could trim UTA's lead down the stretch was was 14.
 
The Warhawks will take a nine-day hiatus and will wrap up their three-game homestand on Dec. 11 in Monroe when they take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff.