Prior to Thursday’s matchup, the Warhawks returned home from an underwhelming conference tour. The ULM men’s basketball team (6-20 overall; 2-11 Sun Belt Conference) racked up a win sweeping the series against South Alabama before losing to Troy and Georgia State.

ULM’s struggle continued at home with a 72-60 loss against the Texas State Bobcats (13-13 overall; 6-7 SBC) on Feb. 13.

The Warhawks controlled the game early, but momentum shifted when the Bobcats erupted for a 15-2 run midway through the first half. From there, ULM never regained control.

ULM struggled to close the gap in the second half. The team’s depth issues played a major role as only seven players took the court against Texas State. Despite a late push from junior guard Jalen Bolden, the Warhawks couldn’t overcome the deficit and fell 72-60.

Bolden led ULM with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while freshman guard Micah Caster and senior guard Coltie Young contributed 11 and 12 points, respectively.

The loss marked another frustrating night for the Warhawks, but it also served as a reminder that ULM is nearing the end of an era. After 40 years of being involved with the ULM basketball team, head coach Keith Richard announced his retirement on Dec. 20, 2024.

“It’s bittersweet because I’ve had a long relationship here as both a coach and a player, but it’s time,” Richard said. “We went to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history when I was a senior in 1982. We tried to be competitive, and some years we were, some years we weren’t.”

When Richard became coach, the program faced APR-related penalties, including postseason ineligibility during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Richard helped restore the program’s academic standing, achieving a perfect APR score by 2013-14. In the years that followed, he led the team to four postseason appearances in five seasons.

With Richard’s tenure nearing its end, ULM will face Texas State again on the road on Feb. 19.