HATTIESBURG, Miss. – It was the battle of three-pointers in Reed Green Coliseum, as ULM (3-15, 0-6 Sun Belt) fell in a 70-60 score to host team Southern Miss (11-7, 5-1 Sun Belt). While the Warhawks outshot the Golden Eagles from beyond the arc with nine, it was hitting the long ball in clutch moments and forcing 14 turnovers from ULM that had Southern Miss ahead.
 
ULM outrebounded Southern Miss with a comparison of 42 to 36, the fifth time this season the Warhawks have outrebounded their opponent. ULM also picked up seven blocks to prevent scoring by the Golden Eagles.
 
Krystian Lewis led the team with a double-double, reaching 20 points for his third-straight game and finding 10 rebounds as well. This is Lewis' first career double-double. Renars Sondors also scored in double digits with 12 points, shooting four-of-six from the field and coming close behind on the defense with nine boards. MJ Russell led the team with six blocks, last occurring by a Warhawk in 2022. 
 
Southern Miss had four players in double digits, Tylik Weeks leading with 20. Djahi Binet posted 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double of his own, with Dylan Brumfield (15) and Izzy Hart (11) both scoring in double figures.
 
While the home team got to an early start with a three, it was all ULM for most of the first half, as Lewis hit back-to-back three-pointers for the lead. That lead would hold until the final minute of the half, with ULM going on an 8-0 run to put distance between themselves and the Golden Eagles. 
 
Russell put up four blocks in the first half to create opportunities for the offense, Lewis and Sondors trading shots to keep the Warhawks comfortable. But a three-pointer from Binet set up a momentum shift, turnovers creating the comeback chance for Southern Miss. After a scoreless period for both teams, the Golden Eagles began to find shots, while ULM continued to struggle. After closing the gap to one point, the home team hit two free throws to find the lead and close out the half ahead, 31-28.
 
The second half was all about trading leads, even as the Golden Eagles pulled ahead in the final minutes. Southern Miss opened the scoring for the second half, but Lewis came in clutch with a three-pointer to close the gap. Dylan Diaz hit free throws to find the lead for the Warhawks again, but a three-point play for the home team flipped the advantage again. 
 
The pendulum swing set up a Golden Eagle scoring run, as they extended the lead to eight with 12 minutes on the clock. Even as the Warhawks continued to push, with Ayomide Bamisile and Sondors finding scores, the home team maintained the lead. A scoreless stretch set up confidence in Southern Miss, as Izzy Hart hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to put the game away as the clock wound down. The Warhawks fought in the final minutes, but could not overcome the lead, with a final score of 70-60.
 
ULM will return to Monroe on January 17 for another doubleheader with the women's basketball team, facing Georgia State. Tipoff on Saturday is scheduled for 2:30 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.