TIP-OFF
The ULM men's basketball team (4-13, 0-4) wraps up a four-game Sun Belt Conference road trip on Saturday (Jan. 11) night with its first of two regular season games versus the Ragin' Cajuns (4-12, 2-2) on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CT. inside the Cajundome.
The Warhawks aim to earn their first conference win this season after opening SBC play 0-4. ULM led by 10 points with eight minutes remaining in the first half and made seven 3-pointers, but Southern Miss rallied to win 84-67. Before its loss at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, ULM led by 11 at the break on Jan. 2 at Georgia Southern but fell 90-82 after the Eagles stormed back in the second half, making 11 3-pointers. ULM opened its conference slate with an 80-75 overtime defeat to Old Dominion when Jacob Wilson scored a career-high 23 points and Makai Willis picked up a double-double in the first conference matchup of the season.
SERIES HISTORY –
Saturday's matchup is the 90th meeting between the Warhawks and Ragin' Cajuns in men's basketball, with the Cajuns leading the all-time series, 59-30. In its last meeting versus the Cajuns, the Warhawks snapped a six-game losing streak with a thrilling 66-59 home victory in Monroe over the Cajuns. Jerry Ngopot scored 15 points while Tyreese Watson added 13 in the win. ULM is seeking its first win in the Cajundome since February of 2021.
SCOUTING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS –
Following a 68-62 win in its Sun Belt opener versus App State, the Ragin' Cajuns announced a leadership change with its men's basketball program and named Derrick Zimerman as the interim head coach. The Monroe native guided the Cajuns to a win at Coastal Carolina to improve to 2-0 in league play before losses to Georgia State and Old Dominion.
The Cajuns leading scorer entering Saturday night's game is Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, an Indian River State transfer that ranked fifth in the NJCAA in scoring during the 2023-24 season. El Moutaouakkil is the lone Cajun that averages double figures with 12.4 points per game and has entered double figures in 11 games, including a season-high 21 points in the Cajuns' comeback win at Coastal Carolina.
RICHARD ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AT CONCLUSION OF SEASON–
ULM men's basketball coach Keith Richard announced on Friday (Dec. 20) his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Richard will complete his 15th season as the head coach of ULM men's basketball. Richard inherited a program saddled with APR sanctions and guided the Warhawks to four postseason appearances in five years. Richard previously served as the head coach of Louisiana Tech from 1998-2007 and was an assistant at LSU from 2008-10 before being named ULM's head coach and has accumulated over 300 victories as a head coach.
FAMILIAR FACES –
The Warhawks welcome back 10 players from the 2023-24 roster including starters Tyreese Watson, Jalen Bolden and Jerry Ngopot. Key role players including Jacob Wilson, Makai Willis and AD Diedhiou are also back after playing in more than 10 games last season.
KEY ADDITIONS –
The 2024 ULM men's basketball signing class featured four new Warhawks to the 2024-25 roster. ULM signed two high school prospects (Micah Caster & Renars Sondors), one four-year transfer (Coltie Young) and one junior college transfer (Ta'Zir Smith) in the 2024 class. Additionaly, Phil Cunningham was introduced as an assistant head coach during the offseason. Cunningham brings over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience at the Division I level.
LOOKING AHEAD –
The Warhawks return to Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Wednesday (Jan. 15) to take on Troy at 6:30 p.m.
