03-17-2019, 03:21 PM
MONROE, La. – ULM (18-15, 9-9), which tied for sixth in the final Sun Belt standings and advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals, has accepted an invitation to play in the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Warhawks will play host to a CIT first-round game in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, with the opponent and date to be determined.
ULM is making its 13th postseason appearance in program history. It marks the Warhawks' fourth trip to postseason play in the last five years, including their third appearance in the CIT (2016 at Furman and 2018 at Austin Peay).
"We're excited about having an opportunity to continue our season in the CIT," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "Opening with a home game is extra special. Our players didn't want the season to end in New Orleans, so they're looking forward to making a run in the postseason.
"The atmosphere in Fant-Ewing Coliseum has been electric at times this season. We're being provided with this opportunity to play a CIT postseason game at home largely because of the way our fans have turned out this season. Our student attendance has been strong all season long, and I'm biased, but I believe our pep band, cheerleaders and dance team are the best in the Sun Belt.
"Our players definitely feed off our crowd's energy, so I hope our students and fans fill Fant-Ewing Coliseum later this week."
ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I Top 20 in three different statistical categories: fifth in free-throw percentage (.792), seventh in 3-point field-goal percentage (.395) and 18th in 3-point field goals made (10.0 per game). The Warhawks' 78.3 scoring average is the program's highest in 19 years (since averaging 78.4 ppg. in 1999-2000). In addition, ULM has shattered the school single-season record with 330 3-pointers made, breaking the previous mark set last year (288 made in 2017-18).
The Warhawks are 13-2 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum this season, including an 89-80 victory over Appalachian State in the first round of the Sun Belt Championship, while averaging nearly 85 points per game. ULM has trailed for just 83:29 out of a possible 600 minutes at home this season.
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (21.2 points, 104 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (15.3 ppg., 76 3-pointers), 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (14.6 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) and 6-4 guard JD Williams (12.3 ppg.).
Smith, an All-Sun Belt First-Team selection and conference Newcomer of the Year, is the only player in NCAA Division I who is averaging at least 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season (research: Sports Reference CBB). His 104 3-pointers are the second-highest single-season total in ULM history (school record: 115 by Paul Marshall, 1995-96).
Ertel, a third-team All-Sun Belt selection, ranks second on the team in scoring, 3-point field goals made and assists (93).
Earlier this season, Munnings became just the fourth player in school history to score at least 1,000 career points and collect at least 800 career records. He is listed among ULM's all-time Top 10 in scoring (sixth with 1,672 career points) and rebounding (fifth with 937). With his start against Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Championship quarterfinals, Munnings tied former guard Nick Coppola (2013-17) for the most games played in a Warhawk uniform (132).
ULM nearly doubled its average home attendance (increased 47 percent) from a year ago, ranking third in the Sun Belt in both overall average home attendance (3,003 per game) and third in average attendance for league home games (3,602 per game; up 53 percent).
Tickets for ULM's upcoming CIT first-round game are priced at $25 for courtside, $12 for reserved seats, $10 for faculty/staff reserved seats, $8 for general admission and $5 for ULM students and youth (18 and under). CIT tickets will go on sale tonight at 6 p.m. on ULMWarhawks.com.
ULM is making its 13th postseason appearance in program history. It marks the Warhawks' fourth trip to postseason play in the last five years, including their third appearance in the CIT (2016 at Furman and 2018 at Austin Peay).
"We're excited about having an opportunity to continue our season in the CIT," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "Opening with a home game is extra special. Our players didn't want the season to end in New Orleans, so they're looking forward to making a run in the postseason.
"The atmosphere in Fant-Ewing Coliseum has been electric at times this season. We're being provided with this opportunity to play a CIT postseason game at home largely because of the way our fans have turned out this season. Our student attendance has been strong all season long, and I'm biased, but I believe our pep band, cheerleaders and dance team are the best in the Sun Belt.
"Our players definitely feed off our crowd's energy, so I hope our students and fans fill Fant-Ewing Coliseum later this week."
ULM ranks among the NCAA Division I Top 20 in three different statistical categories: fifth in free-throw percentage (.792), seventh in 3-point field-goal percentage (.395) and 18th in 3-point field goals made (10.0 per game). The Warhawks' 78.3 scoring average is the program's highest in 19 years (since averaging 78.4 ppg. in 1999-2000). In addition, ULM has shattered the school single-season record with 330 3-pointers made, breaking the previous mark set last year (288 made in 2017-18).
The Warhawks are 13-2 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum this season, including an 89-80 victory over Appalachian State in the first round of the Sun Belt Championship, while averaging nearly 85 points per game. ULM has trailed for just 83:29 out of a possible 600 minutes at home this season.
ULM's starting lineup features four double-figure scorers, in 6-foot-1 guard Daishon Smith (21.2 points, 104 3-pointers), 6-2 guard Michael Ertel (15.3 ppg., 76 3-pointers), 6-6 forward Travis Munnings (14.6 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) and 6-4 guard JD Williams (12.3 ppg.).
Smith, an All-Sun Belt First-Team selection and conference Newcomer of the Year, is the only player in NCAA Division I who is averaging at least 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season (research: Sports Reference CBB). His 104 3-pointers are the second-highest single-season total in ULM history (school record: 115 by Paul Marshall, 1995-96).
Ertel, a third-team All-Sun Belt selection, ranks second on the team in scoring, 3-point field goals made and assists (93).
Earlier this season, Munnings became just the fourth player in school history to score at least 1,000 career points and collect at least 800 career records. He is listed among ULM's all-time Top 10 in scoring (sixth with 1,672 career points) and rebounding (fifth with 937). With his start against Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Championship quarterfinals, Munnings tied former guard Nick Coppola (2013-17) for the most games played in a Warhawk uniform (132).
ULM nearly doubled its average home attendance (increased 47 percent) from a year ago, ranking third in the Sun Belt in both overall average home attendance (3,003 per game) and third in average attendance for league home games (3,602 per game; up 53 percent).
Tickets for ULM's upcoming CIT first-round game are priced at $25 for courtside, $12 for reserved seats, $10 for faculty/staff reserved seats, $8 for general admission and $5 for ULM students and youth (18 and under). CIT tickets will go on sale tonight at 6 p.m. on ULMWarhawks.com.