HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Despite a successful first half, the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team was forced to use a comeback to defeat William Carey on the road in Hattiesburg, Miss. Monday night, Jan. 17. The Rams led for the entire first half, but allowed the Crusaders to take the lead in the second half with 16 minutes left in the game. With just over one minute left in regulation, Mobile gained the lead back and eventually defeated William Carey 66-62 for the Rams' third-straight win.
Mobile entered Monday night's contest riding back-to-back successful offensive games, but only shot 34% from the floor in Monday's win. Mobile was outstanding from the free-throw line, however, making 26 of 29 attempts. William Carey was not much better offensively as the Crusaders recorded a 36% shooting percentage. The rebound total went in favor of the Crusaders as Mobile was out-rebounded Monday, 44-37. The Rams did manage to force 17 William Carey turnovers and eventually scored 20 points off those turnovers.
Joshua Williams, the reigning SSAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week, once again put together a nice game, scoring a game-high 22 points including making a couple of clutch shots and free-throws late in the game to seal the Mobile comeback. In addition, Williams led all players with three steals and led Mobile with four assists. He added five rebounds to his numbers in Monday's victory.
Despite struggling to get the ball to fall in the net, Gary Jefferson still managed 13 points in the win, making four of 17 shots and all four free-throw attempts. Jefferson also grabbed five boards in the win while adding one steal.
Freshman DaMariee Jones and Mobile newcomer Ezra McKenna led the Rams with seven rebounds each as Jones added eight points and two steals to his name. Ezra McKenna, brother of current Ram Sage McKenna, joined Mobile in January and played in just his second game as a Ram against William Carey Monday night. Four of McKenna's seven rebounds were offensive boards.
With Mobile's win over William Carey, the Rams improve their overall record to 9-11 on the season and 3-5 in SSAC action. Mobile will have a tough task next on the schedule and battle No. 3 Talladega in the second and final meeting of the regular season between the two teams this year. The game is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. CT in Talladega, Ala. Mobile was close to upsetting the then No. 4 Tornadoes of Talladega in the first meeting of the season in Pharr Gymnasium on Dec. 2, 2021. Mobile fell by just four points.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
