H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM, MOBILE, Ala. - For just the second time during the 2022-23 season, the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team saw action in Pharr Gymnasium, the first game played at home since Oct. 29. The Rams hosted the defending NAIA Men's Basketball National Champions in Loyola University (La.) on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the Pharr, and fell to the Wolf Pack 82-77 despite holding an early lead. The loss for Mobile drops the Rams back to .500 on the season at 4-4 and 1-3 in SSAC action.
First Half Lead Not Enough
Mobile started Saturday's game strong against Loyola, leading for the majority of the first half and never seeing a deficit greater than two points. At halftime, Mobile led by five at 39-34, with the Rams shooting 54% from the floor. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack only shot 40% through the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, adjustments during the break led to Loyola scoring 48 points in the final 20 minutes. Mobile managed to score 38 points in the half, but Loyola's offensive surge gave the Wolf Pack the comeback win. Through the entire game, Mobile's offense stayed consistent by shooting 57% from the floor, but turnovers came back to haunt Mobile as Loyola managed 23 points off 18 Mobile giveaways.
Pooh Frazier mixed in his best game as a Ram in the loss on Saturday, leading the team with 22 points. Frazier added eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks to his season-best game. Trent Moye followed Frazier with 14 points, while both DaMariee Jones and Ezra McKenna each finished with 13 points in the defeat. Jones added eight rebounds to his name and McKenna finished with seven. As a team, Mobile out-rebounded Loyola, 31-16.
On the Road Next Week
Mobile returns to action next Friday, Dec. 9 with a non-divisional game against Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, Miss. Mobile owns a perfect 6-0 record against the Chargers of Southeastern Baptist, having never lost a game by less than 25 points in the last five meetings. Next Friday's game is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.
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 information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
