MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team (2-6) picked up their second home win of the season against Mississippi Valley State (1-8) on Wednesday night (Dec. 3), 66-52.
Krystian Lewis tied his career high with 22 points, hitting 12 free throws in the process.
Along with Lewis,
MJ Russell and
Renars Sondors reached double figures in scoring. Russell posted 17 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Sondors hit two triples to reach 14 points, as well as four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
Lavell Brodnex led the squad with nine rebounds to go with his five points.
Fouls were the name of the game as ULM shot 29 free throws, landing 20 throughout the contest. The Warhawks also led in total rebounds due to their 31 defensive rebounds to MVSU's 22. Though it was touch-and-go in the first half with four lead changes, ULM claimed almost 33 minutes of lead time.
The Warhawks hit three triples in the first half as they got the scoring going, Sondors getting the first field goal for the 3-0 lead. The Delta Devils responded quickly, going on a run and hitting three field goals to find the 7-5 lead with 17 minutes remaining. Second chances were the name of the game for Mississippi Valley State, as they continued to pull down boards and create multiple chances per shot.
As the fouls began to add up, the visiting team allowed for ULM to retake the lead, 14-13, with 12:12 left on the clock from a Hartman tip-in. The Warhawks hit seven shots from the free throw line in the first half to extend the lead further, but Mississippi Valley State would not go quietly. Daniel Mayfield continued to find opportunities, getting within one point as the time ran down, securing the 30-29 score at the half.
In the first shot of the second half, Samuel Murray secured the lead back for the Delta Devils. But Russell picked up new scores to secure lead for ULM for the remainder of the contest. A triple from Russell, followed by a dunk set up a four-point lead. MVSU's Michael James responded with a three to cut the lead back to one, but fouls returned to hurt the visiting team. The Delta Devils captured eight fouls in the opening six minutes of the half, as ULM continued to hit free throws and extend the lead to nine with 12:30 on the clock.
For two minutes, both teams entered a drought, unable to get a shot to drop and move the needle. But once the floodgates opened for Lewis, things did not let up for Mississippi Valley State. A three-pointer with another foul allowed for the four-point play from Lewis, as Russell and Brodnex got in on the action. Sondors came down with the dunk for a double-digit lead, reaching the point of no return in the final minutes. MVSU was unable to formulate the comeback, with Russell and Sondors firing on all cylinders to capture the 66-52 win.
The Warhawks will hit the road to face Stephen F. Austin as they remain on the hunt for a road win. Tip-off on Sunday (Dec. 7) is slated for 2 p.m. in Nacogdoches.
