MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team (0-2) will make their 2025-26 home debut on Monday (Nov. 10), taking on Rust College (2-4) at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY –
The Bearcats and the Warhawks are playing for the second time in program history, last playing at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in 2017. ULM first saw Rust College in a 104-46 victory at home in 2017, now having the Bearcats return after an eight-year hiatus.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS –
The Bearcats currently post a 2-4 record, most recently falling at home to LeMoyne-Owen. Rust has captured wins over Blue Mountain and Harris Stowe, still searching for a win at home. Point guard Akeives Shorts leads the team with an 18.2 scoring average, shooting 55% from the field and averaging six rebounds per game.
FROM BEYOND THE ARC –
The Warhawks are currently shooting 37.3% from three, already hitting 19 triples across two games. The 3FG percentage ranks third in the Sun Belt, with Krystian Lewis nailing four to lead the team. Seven other ULM players have contributed from beyond the arc, Renars Sondors hitting a career-high three triples at Ole Miss (Nov. 7).
LEADING THE TEAM –
Krystian Lewis leads the pack in most categories, averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals. Lewis posted 22 points in his ULM debut, following things up with a 17-point game against Ole Miss. Dylan Diaz has collected eight rebounds across two games, averaging 4.0 to lead the Warhawks. Freshman Przemek Hartman averages a block per game, collecting two in the season opener.
WARHAWK RETURNERS –
ULM returns three players from the 2024-25 roster. Renars Sondors saw action in 10 games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Sondors posted a 44.7% field goal percentage in his freshman season. Micah Caster enters his sophomore season at ULM after seeing time in 22 games. Caster averaged 3.4 points per game, notching a 43.9% field goal percentage and shooting 37.9% from beyond the arc. To round out the returners, Ajay Tew returns in 2025-26 for his third season. Tew saw action in 11 games, averaging four minutes.
NEW ON THE BAYOU –
The Warhawks welcome 10 to the roster for the 2025-26 season, including four freshmen. Przemek Hartman, Alex Molofeev, Wiggy Ball and Alex Huguet Carrasco will compete as true freshmen for ULM. Dylan Diaz arrives from two seasons at Daytona State College, while Monroe native Krystian Lewis returns to the bayou after a season at Pearl River CC. Lavell Brodnex comes in for his fifth season, two spent at Cameron University and one spent at both Wagner College and Murray State College. Brodnex was named to the All-LSC Third Team both seasons at Cameron. Brentay Noel has two seasons at Southern under his belt in his arrival at ULM. MJ Russell spent three seasons at Mississippi State, playing a total of 21 games for the Bulldogs. Cam Campbell rounds out the roster after two seasons at Asbury University.
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR –
The Warhawks have 14 players from five different countries, including the U.S. Noted countries include: Poland, Spain, Russia and Latvia. Alex Molofeev takes the cake being the farthest from home, as Monroe is 5,672 miles from Moscow, Russia. On the other side of things, junior Krystian Lewis is soccer team's lone hometown resident, as he is from Monroe.
COACH CUNNINGHAM –
Head coach Phil Cunningham gets started in his first year at the helm for ULM. He brings six years of Sun Belt head coaching experience, spending 2013-19 at Troy with an 80-111 record. Cunningham spent the 2024-25 season at ULM as an assistant coach, claiming the head coaching gig after former head coach Keith Richard's retirement.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –
Monday's game will be available on KLIP 105.3 with Mike Hammett on the call. Streaming will be available for games on ESPN+. Links to live stats for all games, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com. Navigate to the men's basketball schedule page and select that day's opponent.
NEXT UP –
The Warhawks will hit the road again, facing HCU on Thursday (Nov. 13). Tip-off in Houston is slated for 7 p.m.
