MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team opens the Ryan Cross era on November 2, facing the Central Michigan Chippewa at 6:30 p.m. for the MAC-SBC Challenge. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Sean Fox and Mike Vining on the call, as Mike Hammett broadcasts the game on LA 105.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS –

Central Michigan opens the season in Monroe after a 10-21 record last season. Head coach Andy Bronkema returns for a second season, returning seven players and welcoming eight new players to the roster. Two starters return in Phat Phat Brooks and Keenan Garner. Travis Ambrose notably joins the team as well, Ambrose having been on CMU's football team.

SERIES HISTORY –
The Warhawks and Chippewas face off for the second time in the series, the first meeting in Monroe. ULM last faced CMU in Michigan in 2023, as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. The Warhawks claimed a 10-point victory, 74-64. 

MAC-SBC CHALLENGE –

This is the third season of ULM participating in the MAC-SBC Challenge. The Warhawks hold a 2-2 record, defeating Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in the 2023-24 season. Last season, ULM fell to Northern Illinois and Ball State in the challenge. 

GUESS WHO'S BACK...BACK AGAIN –

The Ryan Cross era begins at tipoff against the Chippewa, as he was named head coach of the Warhawks on March 25, 2026. He is the ninth coach in program history, making the return to Monroe after eight seasons at ULM from 2012 to 2020. The three winningest seasons since ULM joined the Sun Belt all came while Cross was on staff, the 24 wins in 2014-15 marked as the third-most in program history. ULM made its first Sun Belt Tournament championship game appearance in 2016 and first-ever appearance in the tournament semifinals in 2015. Cross comes to ULM after a 20-12 season with UAB, the Blazers competing in the postseason in four of Cross' six seasons on staff. 

FORMER TEAMMATES –

Multiple players on ULM's roster have played together previously. Quaran McPherson, Dayjaun Anderson and Lance Carr played for UAB last season, with Ryan Cross on the coaching staff. Khalil London and Jean Lafleur were on the same roster at Tennessee State last season, while Jakeel Registe and Ziyade Ndancky both arrive in Monroe from Odessa JC.

THE STAFF THAT FOLLOWS –

Along with Coach Cross, four assistant coaches are welcomed to Monroe to join the staff. Jermaine Johnson arrives at ULM after stints at Memphis under Penny Hardaway and UT Martin. Noah Dartmann returns to Monroe, as a 2020 ULM grad. Dartmann spent time as a student manager under ULM head coach Keith Richard before spending the last six seasons at UAB as a graduate assistant and Director of Basketball Administration. Chris Forbes, son of Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes, was named on staff for the Warhawks after stints at Wake Forest and ETSU. Glen Mayo rounds out the coaches after stints at South Plains College, USC-Salkehatchie, Northwest Florida State and Chipola College. Also on staff is Director of Basketball Performance Daniel Fulp and Director of Basketball Operations Parker Doak.

WARHAWK TIES –

Lance Carr arrives in Monroe with familiarity with the Warhawks. Carr's parents, Cassandra Barker and Larry Carr, both had stellar seasons playing ULM basketball. Barker was a part of the then-NLU women's basketball program from 1989 to 1993. She currently holds multiple slots in the season and all-time program records. Barker totaled 184 blocks in her career to place second all-time. In the 1992-93 season, Barker collected 79 blocks to claim the season blocks record. Carr spent two seasons at Northeast (1993-95), dropping 175 three-pointers to sit at seventh all-time in the record books. Carr's .419 three-point percentage ranks fourth, recognized in the ULM Hall of Fame in 2013.

NEXT ON THE SLATE –

The Warhawks will hit the road for Texas, facing Texas A&M on November 9 at 7 p.m. and TCU on November 10 at 8 p.m.