WARHAWK OFFENSE EXPLODES IN EXHIBITION WIN

MONROE, La. - Led by junior Jonas Browns 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, the Warhawk mens basketball team soared to an 86-64 victory over the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech in ULMs only exhibition tune-up before the regular season on Wednesday evening. "Jonas does everything that we need him to do," said ULM mens basketball head coach Orlando Early. "He had 15 points seven rebounds eight assists in 33 minutes with zero turnovers in a new system and hes not a true point guard." ULM started the game strong, grabbing a 12-0 lead after the games first three minutes. The Wonder Boys fought back from the early deficit, closing the gap to 24-21with just over nine minutes remaining in the half. The ULM defense tightened up, limiting the Wonder Boys to 27 first-half points on 9-24 (37.5 percent) shooting from the field. The Warhawks forced nine turnovers en-route to a 44-27 lead at the break. At the end of the first half, Warhawk senior Darien Bynum led all scorers with 12 points off 4-of-4 shooting from the field. Bynum converted four of his five first-half free throws. The Warhawks put the game out of reach early in the second-half, going on a 14-3 run over a three minute stretch early in the second half. Brown and Bynum combined for ten points during the stretch, giving ULM a 28-point advantage, its largest lead of the game. Bynum finished as the games leading scorer, netting 20 points and four rebounds after missing only one field-goal in the game. Sophomores Tony Hooper and Dalky Melendez, and freshman Nathaniel Roche also scored in double figures for the Warhawks, adding 13, 10 and 11 points, respectively. For the game, ULM connected on 47 percent of their shots going 31 of 66 from the field. The Warhawk defense limited Arkansas Tech to 40 percent shooting for the game, including a 26.5 percent clip from behind the arc. "I am disappointed in their shooting percentage," said Early. "They shot over 40 percent and we need to hold teams down around 30 percent to win games. I am very pleased with the way we played tonight." ULM out rebounded the Wonder Boys by 20, picking up 49 total rebounds. The Warhawks 18 total offensive rebounds led to 17 second-chance points. Sophomore Afam Nweke pulled down nine total rebounds for ULM while junior Lance Brasher added eight. The Warhawks ended with four steals and 15 forced turnovers on the defensive side of the ball while chipping in 20 total assists on offense. ULM is now 2-0 in exhibition games under Early. The Warhawks open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. against Eastern Illinois at the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa.