BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. - The University of Mobile Men's Basketball team won their second conference game in a row on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 14, defeating Blue Mountain Christian on their home floor, 70-66. The win for Mobile concludes a 2-0 week against conference competition, with the Rams defeating rival William Carey at home this past Thursday night. Dating back to Dec. 9, Mobile has won seven of nine games, improving the overall record on the season to 11-6, while holding a 6-4 conference record.
Topping the Toppers
The Mobile offense came out of the gate hot in the first half of Saturday's meeting with Blue Mountain, tallying 40 points on a 54% shooting line through the first 20 minutes. The Toppers also managed a 54% shooting line through the first half, but was held to just 34 points, trailing the Rams by six at the break.
Early in the second half, Blue Mountain claimed a brief lead, but the Rams answered with 18 minutes left in the game and did not look back. The Mobile lead never surpassed eight points in the second half, but the short Topper lead early remained the final time that Blue Mountain led Mobile. The Rams eventually made important free throws late to put the game away and win by four, 70-66.
The Rams offense finished 48% from the field, making 22 shots from the floor. Despite struggling from the three-point line with just four made threes, Mobile added 22 made free throws and finished 59% from the line. On the defensive side, the Rams came away with 20 points off Blue Mountain giveaways, recording three team steals in the process.
Ezra McKenna continued his dominance on the season, tallying his 12th double-double of the year. McKenna, the reigning SSAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week, finished Saturday with 21 points and 11 rebounds and will have a chance to earn his third conference player of the week honor this year on Monday.
DaMariee Jones joined McKenna in recording a strong offensive outing against Blue Mountain as the sophomore led all players in the game with 22 points. Jones recorded six rebounds in the win, four shy of a double-double, and led Mobile with two steals. Saturday's performance is just the second time this season where Jones eclipsed the 20-point plateau on the year as he averages over 14 points per game through 16 games played.
McKenna and Jones were followed by Keon Walker, who played 31 minutes from off head coach Darnell Archey's bench. Archey has been high on Walker as of late for putting in valuable minutes for Mobile off the bench. On Saturday, Walker recorded a new career-high 16 points. Walker's previous career-high of 15 points was tallied just two games ago in the Rams' loss to No. 8 Faulkner on Jan. 7.
Working on Tuesday Evening
Mobile will return to non-conference action in the next game on the schedule as the Rams host Southeastern Baptist College on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Next Tuesday's game in Pharr Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m. CT and is the final non-conference game of the regular season for Mobile.
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.
