The ULM men’s basketball team took on the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Feb. 21. After a very close game, ULM came up short, 94-102, in what would be their last home game of the year.
In the first half, the Warhawks shot exceptionally well, going 18-32 or 56.25%. This game turned out to be one of the Warhawks’ best shooting performance this year, despite dropping the game.
The second half was even closer, with ULM scoring 45 to the Red Wolves’ 46. The shooting for the Warhawks took a dip closer to the end of the game but still held a 46.67% average for the half.
The scoring for the Warhawks was led by a red-hot Krystian Lewis, totaling a career high 33 points and adding nine assists along with it. Renars Sondors was right behind Lewis, with 19 points and shooting an amazing 58% from the field, despite coming off the bench. More notable players that were in double figures were MJ Russell with 16, Lavell Brodnex with 14 and Micah Caster with 10 points.
Brodnex led the team in rebounds, grabbing 10, alongside Russell with nine. This game was one of the only ones that the Warhawks led their opponent in rebounds, picking up 35 compared to ASU’s 32. The player that led in assists is the previously mentioned Lewis, and backing him up is Brodnex with six.
Anyone that watches the Warhawks’ games can see that their lack of depth is insanely appalling. ULM is basically running the same five guys all game long with barely any help. Brodnex is great example of this, playing 39 minutes, or only sitting for one minute the whole game. Russell and Lewis both logged over 37 minutes as well, while Sondors and Caster both were around 30 minutes for the game. The next highest player was Ayomide Bamisile with 11 minutes. Arkansas State, however, did not have a single player out of an eight-player lineup under 20 minutes. Being able to sub out and stay fresh throughout the game is a crucial part that every team needs to incorporate, which ULM does not.
The Warhawks play their next game on Feb. 25 at South Alabama for their second to last game and will try and close out the season on a good note.
