LAFAYETTE, La. – Krystian Lewis reached 25 points in Lafayette, as ULM (3-14, 0-5 Sun Belt) fell to the Ragin' Cajuns (4-13, 2-3 Sun Belt) on Thursday night (Jan. 8) with a tight score of 85-79. Even as the Warhawks had a better shooting percentage across all categories, it was 11 three-pointers and a +17 rebound margin that set the Cajuns apart. 
 
Lewis led the team with 25 points, shooting nine-of-13 from the field and dropping two triples along with seven rebounds to also lead on the defensive side of the ball. MJ Russell scored 14 points and collected both a block and a steal. To round out double-digit scorers, Renars Sondors went five-of-five from the free throw line to post 12 points. 
 
Joshua Lewis for the Ragin' Cajuns shot 10-of-13 to lead both teams in a 26-point showing to put the home team on top. Dorian Finister (18 pts), Dariyus Woodson (15 pts) and Jaxon Olvera (10 pts) also reached double-digits.
 
The home team got out to a hot start early, finding four points before the Warhawks could get on the board. But Sondors got in on the action for ULM, a three-point play keeping the Warhawks within one. Both teams traded triples throughout the first half, but Lafayette found the edge with six to ULM's two. Jaxon Olvera's three-pointer set off a scoring run to pull ahead, but a scoring run for the Warhawks forced the lead.
 
Lavell Brodnex scored four points back-to-back to swing momentum back in favor of ULM, as Lewis hit the team's first three of the night to extend the lead to five. But as the Cajuns began to chip away and hit shots from beyond the arc, they were able to tie it and claim the lead with four minutes remaining in the half. ULM was unable to take the lead back, the first half ending with a 37-36 score in favor of the home team.
 
Just the same as the first half, the Ragin' Cajuns opened with a 4-0 run to extend their lead to five, but the Warhawks looked to respond. Ayomide Bamisile hit a shot to chip away. ULM's defense continued to battle, forcing three turnovers to allow for two threes to cut the lead in half with 12 minutes left. Dorian Finister continued to find opening for the home team to extend the lead, reaching a nine-point advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
 
Micah Caster hit his third triple of the season as he worked on cutting down the deficit, but the Cajuns responded with one of their own. Both teams began trading shots from beyond the arc, keeping the home team comfortable with its lead. Diaz dropped another three for the Warhawks to spark the offense, setting up nine unanswered points. The Ragin' Cajuns responded, ULM unable to overcome the deficit for a final score of 85-79.
 
ULM will continue its road trip into the weekend, traveling to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss. Tipoff against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 2 p.m.