MONTGOMERY, Ala. - In the first annual SSAC v. SUN Conference Challenge in Montgomery, Ala., the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team will head home to Mobile, Ala. with a 1-1 record following the two-day tournament. The conference versus conference tournament featured eight teams across the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) and SUN Conference on Thursday and Friday, four from each side, and saw the two conferences face one another in each matchup. For Mobile, the Rams drew SUN Conference opponents St. Thomas University and Ave Maria University in this year's tournament.
Mobile started the tournament on Thursday, Dec. 29 with a big win over St. Thomas University, defeating the Bobcats, 74-70. The loss for St. Thomas was just their fourth overall on the season. The following day on Friday, Mobile fell to Ave Maria University 68-66 despite leading for the majority of the game. The Rams missed a game-winning three point attempt as time expired against the Gyrenes of Ave Maria. Following the tournament, Mobile's overall record on the 2022-23 season moves to 8-5.
SSAC/SUN Challenge - Mobile Notables
- Mobile shot 43% from the floor in their win against St. Thomas, while shooting just 37% against Ave Maria on Friday.
- From the three-point line, the Rams managed to hit 12 threes in 35 total attempts.
- In Thursday's victory over St. Thomas, Mobile's DaMariee Jones threw down an alley-oop to himself from off the backboard that was eventually nominated for ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays.
- On Friday, the Rams held a double-digit lead over the Gyrenes in the second half, but allowed a Ave Maria comeback late for the tough defeat.
- Individually, Pooh Frazier led all Rams in scoring during the tournament with 44 total points across both games, scoring 24 points alone against St. Thomas. He added nine total rebounds.
- Frazier has scored 20 points or more in three-straight contests, bringing his season average to 13.5 points per game.
- Ezra McKenna tallied double-doubles in both games, bringing his season total to eight doubles-doubles on the year. He finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds against St. Thomas, while tallying 12 points and a season-high 15 boards on Friday against Ave Maria.
- McKenna now averages 15.9 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game on the season, leading the Rams in both categories.
- Mobile finished 38-for-57 from the free throw line across both games played.
Back to SSAC Action
Following this week's non-conference action in the SSAC v. SUN Challenge, Mobile is set to return to conference play following the New Year holiday, facing Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Next Tuesday's meeting with Stillman is the first of two during the regular season this year as Mobile leads the all-time series with a 12-7 overall record. However, Mobile has lost four of the last five meetings against the Tigers.
Tuesday's game is scheduled for 7:30 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.
