TIP-OFF

The ULM men's basketball team (4-12, 0-3) continues its four-game Sun Belt Conference road trip on Thursday (Jan. 9) at Southern Miss (6-9, 1-2) on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CT. The Warhawks are seeking their second-straight win inside Reed Green Coliseum after defeating the Golden Eagles 68-59 last February.

The Warhawks have opened SBC play with an 0-3 record with two of the three losses decided by single digits. 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 –

Thursday's matchup is the 43rd meeting between the Warhawks and Golden Eagles on the hardwood with Southern Miss leading the all-time series, 25-17. ULM is 6-18 on the road in Hattiesburg and won its last game at Reed Green Coliseum with a 68-59 win, which was the Warhawks' first win in Hattiesburg since 1992, snapping a seven-game road losing streak. It was also the first home loss for Southern Miss since joining the SBC before the 2022-23 season. The Golden Eagles have won three of the previous five matchups and are 3-1 versus the Warhawks since joining the SBC. 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES –

After a 68-66 home win over Marshall to open Sun Belt play, the Golden Eagles fell on the road at James Madison and Old Dominion and enter Thursday's game with a 1-2 league record.  Arkansas transfer Denijay Harris is the Sun Belt's third-highest scorer and has reached double figures in 12 of the 14 games he has played. Preseason Third Team All-Sun Belt selection Andre Curbelo led the Golden Eagles with 19 points in the team's last game at Old Dominion and has averaged 12.9 points per game this season. Curbelo began his collegiate career at Illinois, where he was voted the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after the 2020-21 season.

Southern Miss alum and former basketball player Jay Ladner is in his sixth season at the helm of USM hoops. Ladner was voted SBC Coach of the Year and NABC District 23 Coach of the Year following the 2022-23 season.

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 concludes its four-game road trip on Saturday (Jan. 11) with its first of two games versus the Ragin' Cajuns at the Cajundome for a 7 p.m. tip.