CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The ULM men's basketball team (3-8) fell in a road contest to Miami (9-2) on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 13), 104-79. Five ULM players scored in double-figures for the first time all season, as
MJ Russell led the team with 18 points.
While ULM shot 44% from the field, Miami was able to bring things up to 60%, hitting 11 triples to ULM's 15. Rebounding was a struggle for the road team, the Warhawks pulling down 26 and Miami snagging 45. The Hurricanes were also strong in the paint, 62 of their 104 points coming in the paint.
Russell posted 18 points, also collecting three rebounds and four assists in his 40-minute showing. This is Russell's 10th-consecutive game scoring 10+ points, not achieved by a Warhawk since 2023.
Krystian Lewis recorded 15 points with three boards and four assists.
Renars Sondors followed with 14 points and two rebounds, hitting a team-leading four three-pointers.
Dylan Diaz shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to secure 12 points to go with a career-high three blocks. To round things out,
Lavell Brodnex collected yet another double-double, tallying 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Ayomide Bamisile also saw time in his ULM debut, registering four points in 11 minutes.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a 9-0 run, looking to run away with it early. But the Warhawks refused to get knocked down, Sondors swinging the pendulum with a three-pointer to chip away. Sondors and Russell contributed to a 7-0 scoring run across a minute to make it a one-possession game, Russell then tying things at 17 with 13 minutes remaining in the half. The scoring run was returned by Miami, who scored 13 unanswered points to regain the lead.
Free throws proved to be a struggle for the home team, leaving the door open for the Warhawks to keep things tight. The lead kicked back out to 10 as ULM fought back, triples keeping them in it with seven in the first half. While the Warhawks continued to keep it close, Miami picked up 24 first-half rebounds to ULM's nine to maintain the lead. When Lewis notched a triple in the final 30 seconds to make the deficit single-digits, Tru Washington responded with a buzzer-beater three-pointer to keep the lead at 11, 49-38, at the half.
The Warhawks continued to fight as the second half began, Sondors getting hot with another three-pointer. As the Hurricanes fought to stay ahead with a 6-0 scoring run, ULM remained in the fight. Multiple scoring runs came for Miami, turning an 11-point game to a 17-point game with 13 minutes remaining in the game. The Hurricanes were able to catch up with ULM beyond the arc, shooting 7-of-8 from three to extend the lead, reaching the 20-point advantage and surpassing the century mark. While ULM continued to battle, Miami was able to walk away with the 104-79 score.
The Warhawks will get back to Monroe for a Sun Belt matchup, opening conference play in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Tipoff against the South Alabama Jaguars is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 17).
