BOONE, N. C. – A lack of shooting derailed the ULM men's basketball team in a 59-43 loss to App State on Friday.
 
The Warhawks (3-18, 0-9 Sun Belt) shot just 22% from the field and made only 5 of 25 three-point shots. They were also outrebounded 56-41. The Mountaineers (13-9, 6-4 Sun Belt) performed better but not by much, shooting 32.9% in field goals with a measly six three pointers out of 39 attempts.
 
App State started the contest on fire, going up 10-0 into the first media timeout. Four points by MJ Russell and a three-pointer from Krystian Lewis put ULM behind by one before two Alex Molofeev free throws put it ahead 11-10. Another three-point shot, this time from Russell, gave ULM a four-point cushion at an App State timeout.
 
With the score at 16-12, the Warhawks entered a scoring drought of 8:05 while the Mountaineers, despite struggles of their own in scoring, took advantage and held a 20-16 lead with around five minutes left in the half. A pair of Russell free throws and a Lewis jumper tied the game with less than four minutes until the break. ULM was shut out the rest of the way, resulting in a 28-20 Mountaineer lead at halftime.
 
Two App State jumpers opened up the second half, putting the home team up by 12 with 18:40 on the clock. A Molofeev layup was the only score for both teams for the next 3:37, extending the trend of low scoring.
 
The Mountaineers took control from there, executing a 13-2 scoring run to increase the deficit to 21 with around ten minutes left. Trailing 47-27, two threes by Russell and Diaz, along with a pair of free throws, gave the Warhawks some life with a 12-point contest with just under seven to go. 12 was the closest ULM got the rest of the way, and a 16-point defeat was the final result.
 
Russell was the lone bright spot offensively, collecting 21 points with two triples on the day. Lewis led the team in rebounding with nine total, while Ayomide Bamisile produced four blocks defensively.
 
The Warhawks head back to Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 29, for a matchup with Georgia Southern at 6:30 p.m.