MOBILE, Ala. - Despite keeping the game close in the first half, Mobile allowed the third-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack to pull away on the scoreboard in second half, losing Thursday night, Feb. 3 in Pharr Gymnasium, 71-58. With the loss, Mobile's overall season record drops to 10-15 on the year while the Rams' conference record falls to 4-9.
On Jan. 3, 2022, Mobile and the then No. 1 ranked Loyola Wolf Pack met for the first time during the 2021-22 season in New Orleans, La. where the Wolf Pack escaped an upset bid from the Rams. Loyola managed to come away with a two-point win in the game, remaining undefeated, after Mobile's Sage McKenna missed a game-winning three as time expired. Since then, Loyola has lost just one game while dropping to No. 3 in the NAIA Men's Basketball Top 25 Coaches' Poll entering Thursday.
Mobile kept it close with Loyola in the first half, and would have had the lead if the Rams made each free-throw attempt taken. Loyola managed a 31-26 lead at the break. At the start of the second half, Mobile managed to pull within three of Loyola, but the Wolf Pack managed to force several Mobile turnovers in the second half and run away with the game. As a team, Mobile turned the ball over 23 times in the game which resulted in 27 points for Loyola.
Mobile shot 45% from the floor in the defeat on Thursday, led primarily by DaMariee Jones who led the Rams with 18 points, tying a career-high. Jones finished with a double-double in the loss, securing 13 rebounds. Six of Jones' 13 rebounds were on the offensive side.
Gary Jefferson also had a nice offensive night, scoring 16 points while leading Mobile with four steals. Ezra McKenna finished one rebound shy of a double-double as he recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Mobile's turnover totals and free-throw percentage hurt the Rams in the long run as Mobile only managed to make 13 of 22 free-throw attempts in the game.
The Rams will return to action in two days in Pharr Gymnasium as Mobile hosts conference rival William Carey on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Prior to tip-off, Gary Jefferson, as well as several cheer members, will be honored pregame for Senior Day.
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.
