Warhawks top Eagles in road win

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Senior guard Tony Hooper knocked down a pull-up, 15-foot jumper with eight-tenths of a second remaining to lift the ULM men's basketball team to a 74-73 victory at Morehead State on Saturday night (Nov. 21).

After being held scoreless in the first half, Hooper scored 16 points after the intermission, including the game-winner, to send the Warhawks home with the road victory.

ULM fell behind 9-2 in the opening four minutes of the contest, the only Warhawk basket coming on a put back by junior center Rudy Turner. The Morehead State lead grew to nine, 15-6, before an old-fashioned three-point play by junior forward Tommie Sykes and a triple by senior guard Jarvis Hill slashed the Eagles lead to just three with 11:40 to play in the opening half.

The Warhawks drew even, 17-17, on a pair of free throws by senior forward Lawrence Gilbert before Morehead State had a five-point burst to retake the lead.

Already leading by one, the Eagles went on an 8-1 run to take a 32-24 advantage until Hill buried his third trifecta of the half, bringing ULM back within five with 3:21 to play in the half. ULM ended the first half on a 9-0 run, culminating in an old-fashioned three-point play by Hill to give the Warhawks their first lead, 36-35, heading into the break.

Hill led all scorers at the intermission with 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from the line. Forbes added 11 points in the opening half for ULM while Kenneth Faried had 10 points and six rebounds to lead Morehead State.

Hooper heated up early in the second stanza, scoring eight points in the first four minutes of the half, including two triples, as ULM took a 46-41 lead into the first media timeout of the second half. Morehead State responded with an 8-3 run, evening the score at 49-49 with 14:19 to play.

The ULM lead grew back to as large as seven, but Morehead State answered, retaking the lead, 62-61, with 8:52 left in the contest.

With the score tied, 67-67, junior guard Warren Fuselier hit a free throw and senior guard Dynile Forbes scored on a drive to the basket to give the Warhawks a three-point lead with four minutes to play.

After trading baskets, Morehead State took a 73-72 lead on the second of back-to-back baskets by Demonte Harper. The Eagles then had the ball with 33 seconds remaining but, following a timeout, the Warhawks forced a turnover and had the ball with 17 seconds left, setting up the last second heroics.

Forbes led ULM with 17 points; Gilbert added 16 and Hill chipped in the 12 for the victorious Warhawks who shot 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the floor in the second half.

Faried led all scorers with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

The Warhawks will return to action on Tuesday night (Nov. 24) when they host Grambling State at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and it will be the second game of a doubleheader as the ULM women will take on Centenary at 5:15 p.m.