The men’s basketball team (2-18, 1-6 SBC) hosted and lost to the Denver University Pioneers 63-48 on Thursday at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

At the half, DU (15-4, 5-1 SBC) led 36-18, and held ULM to shoot 29 percent from the field on seven of 24 shooting from the field.

“Our guys were so dribble happy, so-to-speak,” head coach Keith Richard said. “Instead of ‘pass first and move without the ball’ type of guys.”

In the first half, Richard decided to bench senior guard Fred Brown and never subbed Brown back into the game.

Richard said, “I was sick of a lot of guys in the first half and the way they played offensively.”

Sophomore guard Charles Winborne sparked the Warhawks offensively to start the second half with a three-pointer that cut the lead to 12. DU retaliated with a two, but on ULM’s next possession, freshman forward Trey Lindsey sank another three to cut the lead to 11. The closest ULM would cut into the lead.

“With this team, it’s a grind to get us to play right for 40 minutes,” Richard said.

Winborne finished the game as the only doubledigit scorer for ULM with 18 points and five rebounds.

Richard said there are two reasons the team struggles to play a complete 40-minute game.

He said, “The other team, most of the time, is more talented than we are, and that is tough.” Richard also said, “We are not a very good passing team and that causes problems, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t working to improve.”

Winborne seemed to be the only Warhawk who could get shots to fall as he tried to keep ULM in striking distance as the game clock ticked below eight minutes. His efforts weren’t enough.

Richard said, “One day we will be a normal program, it’s just not today.”