Warhawks drop opener to Tigers

The 2009-10 basketball season kicked off for the Warhawks with a trip to LSU on Friday night. The Tigers had won 74 straight games over in-state schools. This streak was extended to 75, as they rolled to an 82 - 62 victory.

"I think it was a little nervousness, and anxiousness to start the season at the flagship university, it's just a little shell shock," Head Coach Orlando Early said.

Junior Warren Fuselier and Senior Malcolm Thomas led the team in scoring, as they both poured in 11 points. Tommie Sykes and Tony Hooper each added a team high six rebounds each.

Neither team managed to find the basket in the first minute and a half, before All-SEC forward Tasmin Mitchell connected on jumper. ULM failed to score for the first seven minutes of the game, allowing LSU to build a 12-0 lead. Fuselier got the Warhawks on the board nearly eight minutes into the game, stealing a pass and laying the ball in.

LSU would continue to pour on the points, as they built a 17 point lead in the first half. ULM would fight back though closing the margin to 11 at the half, thanks to a four point play by Lawrence Gilbert and a last second three by Tony Hooper.

The Warhawks came out with an offensive onslaught to start the second half, as they would pull to within eight, but could get no closer.

Fant-Ewing Coliseum will see it's first action of the season as the Warthawks now look to face off against the Alcorn State Braves in the home opener on Sunday for a 2pm tip-off.