TIP-OFF

The ULM men's basketball team (4-14, 0-5) continues its four-game homestand on Saturday (Jan. 18) afternoon and will play its final matchup of the regular season versus the Ragin' Cajuns (5-13, 3-3) from Fant-Ewing Coliseum on ESPN+.

In the first meeting at Lafayette, ULM held the lead for over 34 minutes and the Cajuns led by no more than four points the entire night, but the Cajuns escaped with a three-point victory. Makai Willis turned in his 10th double-figure scoring game and paced all Warhawks with 17 points, one point shy of a season-high.

SERIES HISTORY –

Saturday's matchup is the 91st meeting between the Warhawks and Ragin' Cajuns in men's basketball, with the Cajuns leading the all-time series, 60-30. In its last meeting versus the Cajuns in Monroe, the Warhawks snapped a six-game losing streak with a thrilling 66-59 home victory over the Cajuns. Jerry Ngopot scored 15 points while Tyreese Watson added 13 in the win. 

SCOUTING THE CAJUNS –

After defeating the Warhawks last week, the Cajuns fell at Arkansas State, 83-63, to begin their two-game road stretch. 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 12.6 points per game and has entered double figures in 13 games, including a season-high 21 points in the Cajuns' comeback win at Coastal Carolina.

Following a victory in the 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 and former standout basketball player at Wossman High School and Mississippi State 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.

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 welcome South Alabama to Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Thursday (Jan. 23) night with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m.