ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington men's basketball returns home to the College Park Center for the first time in nearly a month, when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe (4-7) at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on
ESPN+ and on the radio on the
Varsity App, 102.5 FM and KTNO 620 with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours.
UTA enters play coming off a hard-fought loss at Arkansas State on Thursday night, falling 83-79 to the Red Wolves in Jonesboro, Arkansas. ULM picked up its fourth win of the season on Wednesday night, dispatching Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 89-73 at home. The Mavs and Warhawks met earlier this season in Monroe, with UTA coming out on top, 84-70 on Dec. 2.
The Warhawks are led by 15th-year head coach Keith Richard. The ULM grad has coached previously at Louisiana Tech (1998-2007) and has also been an assistant at LSU (2008-10), LA Tech (1995-98), ULM (1989-94) and Marshall (1986-89).
Louisiana-Monroe is led by Guard Jalen Bolden, who is averaging a team-high 12.1 ppg and 5.8 rpg (had 12 points and 11 rebounds on Dec. 2). Guards Coltie Young (10.5 ppg, 42.2% from distance) and Tyrese Watson (9.9 ppg and 4.1 apg) are also key fixtures for ULM. Young finished with four points on 2-of-8 shooting on Dec. 2, while Watson had a team-high 16 points for ULM against the Mavs.
The Mavs saw guard
Jaden Wells, the team's leading scorer at 15.1 ppg, go for 19 on Thursday, while forward
Diante Smith added a season-high 15 points to go along with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Big man
Lance Ware finished with 11 points, seven boards and a career-best four blocks in his last time out.
Ware and Wells each scored in double figures against the Warhawks earlier in the month, scoring 17 and 11, respectively. The Mavs led by as many as 25 and held the lead for 29:02 of the Dec. 2 matchup between the two teams. UTA dished out 22 assists on 30 field goals and hit 15-of-34 from beyond the arc in the win.
-- #BuckEm –
FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, follow the men's basketball program on X (formerly Twitter) (@UTAMavsMBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB).
