Warhawks fall in road finale

BOONE, N.C. – The ULM men’s basketball team closed out its 2014-15 road slate with a 66-43 loss at Appalachian State on Saturday at the Holmes Center.

The Warhawks lost for only the second time in February (5-2) and only the second time on the road in ULM’s last eight contests. And the loss meant the teams split the season series with ULM winning in Monroe, 69-58. The game was ULM’s first at Appalachian State.

ULM’s Nick Coppola scored a team-high 12 points for ULM (19-10, 13-5 SBC) after hitting a pair of 3-pointers. It was the fourth time this season Coppola has led ULM in scoring this season and his 22nd double-digits scoring game.

ULM’s Justin Roberson also reached double-figures with 10 points. Roberson has 12 double-figures scoring games this season and has scored 10 or more in four of his last five games.

ULM’s Tylor Ongwae and Majok Deng pulled down five rebounds apiece.

Frank Eaves notched a game-high 28 points for the Mountaineers (10-17, 7-11). He drained five three-pointers and shot 9-for-14 from the field.

And even in defeat, ULM remained as one of five teams left in the nation to not allow 75 points in a single game this season. The list also includes Saint Peters, Utah, Baylor and New Hampshire.

Early 3-pointers from Roberson and Jamaal Samuel built ULM a 10-8 lead. The Mountaineers came back with a big 15-0 run to go up 23-10 with 6:32 left. A 3-pointer at the buzzer by Dustin Clarke gave Appalachian State a 34-19 lead at the half.

The Warhawks cut the deficit to 14 in the second half, 44-30, after a 3-pointer by Coppola with 12:04 remaining but could not get any closer.

ULM will play its last two games of the regular season at home beginning on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks will play their season finale next Saturday on senior night at 4 p.m. against Texas State

The Warhawks have already clinched a first-round bye at the Sun Belt Conference Championships.