TIP-OFF

The ULM men's basketball team (4-11, 0-2) continues its four-game road trip Saturday (Jan. 4) at Coastal Carolina (7-7, 0-2) on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CT. The Warhawks will look to snap a five game Sun Belt losing streak and an 0-4 all-time record playing at The HTC Center on Saturday. 

The Warhawks led by 11 at the break on Thursday at Georgia Southern but fell 90-82 after the Eagles stormed back in the second half, making 11 3-pointers. Coltie Young reached the 20-point mark for the second time this season and Jerry Ngopot scored a career-high 19 points. ULM opened its conference slate with an 80-75 overtime defeat to Old Dominion. 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 –

The Warhawks and Chanticleers last met in the 2024 SBC Tournament, as Coastal Carolina advanced with a 75-71 victory. ULM has won two of the previous three matchups with two-straight home wins spanning from 2023-24. CCU has won all four meetings versus the Warhawks in Conway, and Saturday's game is ULM's first trip to Conway since 2021.

SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS –

The Chanticleers led by as many as 13 points in the second half during Thursday night's game versus the Ragin' Cajuns, but the Cajuns raced back and outscored Coastal 14-3 in the final 5:30 to complete the comeback. Coastal Carolina enters Saturday's game 0-2 in league play after dropping its SBC opener on the road at Arkansas State.

The Chants have one of the top 3-point percentage defenses in the country, holding opponents to just 27.1% shooting from long distance. Coastal's 3-point defense is sixth in the nation and leads the Sun Belt Conference.

Individually, Rasheed Jones is Coastal Carolina's perimiter threat, as Jones enters Saturday's game shooting 43.8% from beyond-the-arc, which is third in the Sun Belt. Jones' 35 3-point field goals made ranks sixth in the conference. The Northwest Florida State College transfer and Marion, Ind. native leads the Chants in scoring with 13.9 points per 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.

LOOKING AHEAD –

ULM will be back in action on Thursday (Jan. 9) with a road game at Southern Miss starting at 7 p.m. CT.