THE RUNDOWN
Score: ULM 96 – Centenary 63
Teams: ULM (1-0, 0-0 SBC)
Centenary (exhibition)
Location: Fant-Ewing Coliseum/ Monroe, La.
MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team used a hot shooting afternoon in the first half of a 96-63 blowout of Centenary to open the 2016-17 season. Jordon Harris was the key early, as he scored 20 of his game-high 23 in the first half.
THE TURNING POINT
-Coming out of the under 16 minute media timeout in the first half, the Warhawks led 12-6 and used red hot shooting to go on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to stretch their lead out to 18 in a game they would never look back.
NOTABLES
-Four players finished in double-figures for ULM, led by Jordon Harris with 23 points. He was 9-of-11 from the floor (5-of-7 from three-point range) while also adding three rebounds and two assists. Travis Munnings tailed his first double-double of the year with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Nick Coppola added 14 points with seven rebounds and seven assists. Marvin Jean-Pierre in his first game as a Warhawk added 13 points while shooting 6-of-10.
-With the win, the Warhawks have now won four home openers in a row and are now 48-18 all-time in home openers.
-Friday was the first time the Warhawks last broke the 90 point mark since they scored 91 since against Georgia State on March 5, 2016.
-Munnings tied his career-high with 11 defensive rebounds this afternoon. Coppola was one rebound off of tying his career-high with seven rebounds.
-The Warhawks and Gents faced off for the 34th time in each school's respective history on Friday afternoon. ULM moves to 8-6 all-time inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum against Centenary.
-The Warhawks finished the night shooting 54.4 percent from the floor (37-of-68) and hit 12 of their 29 three-point attempts. Centenary finished the game at 28.1 percent shooting (18-of-64) and hit nine of its 26 three-point attempts.
QUOTEABLES
Head Coach Keith Richard
Thought on the game: Defensively, I thought we did pretty well in the first half but it is still going to be a work in progress in each game but it was encouraging to see positives today. Jordan Harris shot it really well in the first half. Coming out of junior college, he had a strong three point shooting reputation but hasn't shown that in practice. It's encouraging to see that today. Travis Munnings is a year further along and he controls the ball a lot better as an all-around player. He is a better all-around player and is a key piece of this team for the upcoming season.
UP NEXT
-Following Friday afternoon's victory, the Warhawks will now get set to go on the road for the first time this season, and will square off against No. 21 Texas on Monday night. Tipoff on Monday is slated for 7:00 p.m. inside the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
