H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM, MOBILE, Ala. - In the second and final meeting of the 2022-23 regular season, the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team hosted conference foe Talladega College on Tuesday night, Jan. 24 and came away with a 63-54 victory in front of the home faithful. The win over Talladega for Mobile gives the Rams a 2-0 record this season over last season's runner-up in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, with Mobile defeating the Tornadoes on their home court back on Nov. 29.
The win propels Mobile's overall record to 14-7 this year, with the SSAC record moving to 8-5, and gives Mobile 10 victories in the last 13 games played.
Second Half Comeback the Difference
Throughout the first half on Tuesday night, Talladega and Mobile traded the lead with Mobile leading for the majority of the first 10 minutes played. However, Talladega managed a small offensive run in the latter part of the first half, eventually taking a three-point advantage at 29-26 to halftime. Both teams struggled to score through the first 20 minutes, with the Tornadoes making just 11 shots and Mobile making just 10.
In the second half, Mobile started with a 5-0 run over the Tornadoes, reclaiming the lead. Talladega managed to tie the game twice early in the second half, but never saw the lead again as Mobile began increasing the deficit. Later, the Rams went up eight points with just 11 minutes left, forcing the Talladega coaching staff to burn timeouts. The timeouts seemed to work as Talladega managed to shrink the Mobile lead to just one point with 5:51 left in regulation. After a timeout used by Mobile Head Coach Darnell Archey, the Rams began to stretch out the lead once more, eventually winning the conference contest by nine points.
The Mobile offense shot 44% from the field on Tuesday night, making four three-point shots in the process. From the free throw line, the Rams only shot 56%, making 13 of 23 attempts. The defense for Mobile only allowed 17 made shots on the night for Talladega and forced nine turnovers, scoring a total of nine points off Talladega giveaways. The Tornadoes managed to out-rebound the Rams, 31-30.
Individually, DaMariee Jones led Mobile with 17 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Pooh Frazier tallied 14 points in the win, making two clutch three-point shots. Ezra McKenna, Mobile's team leader in scoring on the season, had a slower night than usual, only putting up nine points to his name with eight rebounds. McKenna was held to just two points in the first half.
Foul trouble haunted Mobile throughout the game as the Rams saw three players with four fouls, two of which being starters. Darnell Archey was forced to rely on players from off the bench on Tuesday in attempt to keep a player from fouling out of the game. Keon Walker played 12 minutes from off the bench, making two big three-point shots early in the first, while Alan Lang came up with some big minutes off Archey's bench, tallying six points, two rebounds, and a steal in 24 minutes played. In addition, Liam Patterson came up with a massive layup to keep the Rams up two possessions late in the second half as Talladega was cutting into the lead. Patterson played 11 minutes, scoring three points.
Big Game on the Road this Saturday
Mobile will look for an upset this Saturday, Jan. 28 as the Rams travel to New Orleans, La. for a conference matchup against No. 15 Loyola University (La.). Saturday's game against the defending NAIA Men's Basketball National Champions is set for 2:00 p.m. CT as the Wolf Pack will look for the regular season sweep over Mobile. Mobile fell to Loyola 82-77 at home back in December.
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.
