MONROE, La. – Little Rock rallied from a 10-point second half deficit to tie its bout with ULM at 44-44 with just under two minutes to play. But as was the case all evening, the Trojans couldn't get the key basket when they needed it as the Warhawks scored the game's final four points – all from the free throw line – handing Little Rock the 48-44 defeat at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 6-24 on the season and 3-14 in Sun Belt Conference play. Little Rock locked up the number 12 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament next week in New Orleans and will play in the 5-12 game at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7.
Both the Trojans and Warhawks struggled offensively all night as the teams combined to shoot just 30.9 percent from the floor. Little Rock made 18 of its 55 shots (32.7 percent) while ULM made 16 of its 55 attempts (29.1 percent). Beyond the arc, the Trojans converted just 3-of-15 attempts (20.0 percent) with the Warhawks making 8-of-33 (24.2 percent).
Nine different Trojans scored on the night, but none contributed more than seven points.
Oliver Black led the way with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds as
K.J. Gilmore,
Wadly Mompremier,
Brandon Brady and
Anthony Black all finished with six points for Little Rock.
Jaizec Lottie registered five points, six rebound and three assists for the Trojans while
Ryan Pippins posted four points and six boards. As a team, Little Rock held a commanding 43-34 rebounding edge over ULM, but held just a 14-12 advantage on the offensive glass.
The opening 20 minutes set the tone for the defensive slugfest as neither team shot better than 30 percent from the floor in the opening half. Little Rock shot 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from the floor while ULM was 23.3 percent (7-of-30), leading to a 19-18 halftime edge for the Warhawks.
With Little Rock leading 25-24 early in the second half, ULM started to find it scoring touch, using a 12-1 run to build a 10-point cushion at 36-26 with 12:12 remaining. Little Rock chipped away at the deficit over the next eight minutes, pulling to within one at 39-38 off a layup from A. Black with 4:53 remaining.
The Warhawks extended their lead back to six at 44-38 over the next minute, only to see Little Rock score six straight as a jumper in the lane by O. Black with 1:54 remaining tied the game at 44-44. The Trojans had a handful of chances to take the lead but missed their final three shots of the game, turning the ball over twice in the final minute.
ULM had a pair of players finish in double figures, led by 21 points from Travis Munnings and 11 from Sam McDaniel, accounting for 32 of the Warhawks' 48 points. Little Rock held a 26-14 edge in points in the paint, but an 18-8 advantage in points off turnovers helped guide ULM to the victory.
Little Rock will need to have a short memory as it now prepares to close out the 2017-18 regular season with a daunting task. The Trojans travel to Lafayette to take on Sun Belt champion Louisiana Saturday as the Ragin' Cajuns sit at 26-4 on the year following an 85-74 win over Arkansas State. Opening tip from the Cajundome is set for 7 p.m.
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