By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AFTER losses in four of their last five games, Travis Munnings and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks began their homestand back in the win column.

Munnings scored 16 points, in just 26 foul-plagued minutes of the Warhawks’ 72-67 win over the Grambling State Tigers Tuesday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The senior wing also grabbed four rebounds and dished two assists with four steals as ULM improved to 4-4 on the season.

ULM made six free throws down the stretch to seal the win and improve to 4-4 on the season. They held a 28-20 halftime advantage and opened the second half on a 12-4 run. They led by as much as 15 (51-36) at the 11:22 mark. “I’m really glad that we won, having a 10-day layoff there was some rust, particularly offensively. We’re a much better three-point shooting team than we showed tonight and we’re free throw shooting team that we showed,” said ULM head coach Keith Richard. “We made just enough plays which is what you’re supposed to do in close games. We haven’t had many close games so it was kind of good to have a close one to figure things out so this is going to be good for us down the stretch.”

Through eight games, Munnings is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. It was the 13th meeting between ULM and Grambling State. The Warhawks now lead the all-time series 10-3, including an 8-1 record at home. ULM has won the last eight meetings, but four of those games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Last season, Munnings posted 19 points and eight rebounds in last year’s win over Grambling. It was just the Warhawks’ second home game of the season and their first since November 10.

ULM’s 2018-19 schedule features eight games against opponents that appeared in the 2018 postseason, including four NCAA Tournament participants (Texas, Michigan State, Stephen F Austin and Georgia State) and two National Invitation Tournament participants (LSU and ULL). In total, ULM will play 10 games against opponents that won 20 or more games last season.

Sun Belt head coaches have voted ULM to finish in a fourth-place tie with Troy (89 points each) in their preseason poll.