TIP-OFF

The ULM men's basketball team (5-17, 1-8) plays its first road game since Jan. 11 when it travels to Mobile, Ala. to face off against South Alabama (14-7, 6-3) Thursday, Jan. 30 from the Mitchell Center at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. It's the second matchup of the seaosn between the two teams after the game in Monroe on Monday night. 

The Warhawks secured their first Sun Belt Conference victory on Monday against the Jaguars in a 77-66 win. Coltie Young led the way with 27 points, which included five three-point shots. The Warhawks also missed just two free throws, going 24-26 in the contest. The 77 points scored was the most by ULM since Jan. 2 when it scored 82 points. 

This marks the first time the Warhawks will play the same team in consecutive games since the 2021-22 season, when the Warhawks played the Ragin' Cajuns in back-to-back games on Feb. 17 in Monroe and Feb. 19 in Lafayette. ULM lost both games versus the Cajuns by less than six points.

SERIES HISTORY –

The Jaguars lead the all-time series 18-16, with the Warhawks winning two of the past three games. Before last season, USA held a five-game win streak in the series, which dated back to 2020. The Warhawks last win in Mobile came in 2018, with their series away record being 5-8.  

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS –

With the loss on Monday night, South Alabama has now dropped two straight conference games after starting 6-1 in Sun Belt play. Leading the scoring for the Jaguars is Myles Corey, a graduate transfer from William Jessup, who is averaging 14.8 ppg. Monday night, Corey produced 14 points along with seven assists. Barry Dunnning Jr. averages double-digit points with 12.3 ppg, but struggled last matchup with only six points, shotting 3-16 in the game.

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.

MILESTONE WATCH –

Senior guard Coltie Young enters Thursday's game 30 points shy of the 1,000 career points milestone. Young played three seasons at Jackson State before transferring to ULM this season, where he totaled 713 points for the Tigers. He recorded his third 20-point game of the season with 27 points in the Warhawks' win over South Alabama on Monday. 

LOOKING AHEAD –

The Warhawks stay within the state of Alabama and will take on Troy Saturday, Feb. 1 in Troy, Ala. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.