ULM Forward Ongwae is averaging 16.2 ppg this season to rank 10th among Sun Belt players, but he is second in the league in scoring in conference games with an average of 20.4. The forward has reached double figures in all seven Sun Belt games so far, heading into tonight?s game against Arkansas State, scheduled for 7 p.m.
?He fit right into the mold of what we were trying to start with (recruiting) ... let?s get more athletic, let?s get some length to us and start from there,? Richard said. ?Let?s get some of that back, and he fit the mold for what we were trying to get started with so it was perfect fit for him and for us.
?What intrigued us about Tylor is for the first time we were going to have a 6-6, long-armed athlete at the small forward position, which was very intriguing to have.?
Ongwae will have to continue to lead the Warhawks heading into tonight?s match up even more so since the team learned Wednesday that second-leading scorer Amos Olatayo is out for the year with a torn ACL.
The senior guard was averaging 13.2 points a game up until his injury and Ongwae called him the best player on the team.
?Losing him, he was a leader so we all have to step up now big time,? Ongwae said. ?It was so bad especially him being a senior.?
With Olatayo out, that leaves one other ULM player on the court averaging double figures with forward Jayon James? 10 points per game as well as a team-leading 6.1 rebounds.
All of Arkansas State?s starting five are averaging double figures in conference play, posing an even bigger challenge with the Red Wolves playing with two forwards and averaging 77.5 points a game.
?I would like to be able to tell our team for this game, ?Hey they?re not that good,? but I can?t because they?re very good,? Richard said. ?We need to approach this game knowing that we have a challenge in front of us just like the last two games (against Georgia State and Western Kentucky). The odds are stacked against us, but it?s an opportunity.
?We?ve competed pretty well in the last two games against the other two teams similar in terms of talent and coaching and the whole bit, and I expect us to come out and compete and compete well.?
The one thing ULM can take comfort in is that the team played Sun Belt leader Georgia State close for almost 40 minutes this past Saturday without Olatayo. The Panthers remain undefeated in conference play and beat Arkansas State by one point 73-72 earlier this month.
The Red Wolves enter Fant-Ewing 11-7 on the year and 4-3 in conference play with their other two losses coming against Western Kentucky (82-77 in double overtime) and Troy (98-84).
?He fit right into the mold of what we were trying to start with (recruiting) ... let?s get more athletic, let?s get some length to us and start from there,? Richard said. ?Let?s get some of that back, and he fit the mold for what we were trying to get started with so it was perfect fit for him and for us.
?What intrigued us about Tylor is for the first time we were going to have a 6-6, long-armed athlete at the small forward position, which was very intriguing to have.?
Ongwae will have to continue to lead the Warhawks heading into tonight?s match up even more so since the team learned Wednesday that second-leading scorer Amos Olatayo is out for the year with a torn ACL.
The senior guard was averaging 13.2 points a game up until his injury and Ongwae called him the best player on the team.
?Losing him, he was a leader so we all have to step up now big time,? Ongwae said. ?It was so bad especially him being a senior.?
With Olatayo out, that leaves one other ULM player on the court averaging double figures with forward Jayon James? 10 points per game as well as a team-leading 6.1 rebounds.
All of Arkansas State?s starting five are averaging double figures in conference play, posing an even bigger challenge with the Red Wolves playing with two forwards and averaging 77.5 points a game.
?I would like to be able to tell our team for this game, ?Hey they?re not that good,? but I can?t because they?re very good,? Richard said. ?We need to approach this game knowing that we have a challenge in front of us just like the last two games (against Georgia State and Western Kentucky). The odds are stacked against us, but it?s an opportunity.
?We?ve competed pretty well in the last two games against the other two teams similar in terms of talent and coaching and the whole bit, and I expect us to come out and compete and compete well.?
The one thing ULM can take comfort in is that the team played Sun Belt leader Georgia State close for almost 40 minutes this past Saturday without Olatayo. The Panthers remain undefeated in conference play and beat Arkansas State by one point 73-72 earlier this month.
The Red Wolves enter Fant-Ewing 11-7 on the year and 4-3 in conference play with their other two losses coming against Western Kentucky (82-77 in double overtime) and Troy (98-84).
