H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM, MOBILE, Ala. - On Saturday afternoon, Jan. 7 in Pharr Gymnasium, the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team and the eighth-ranked Faulkner Eagles met for the first time during the 2022-23 season, with Faulkner coming away victorious, 62-59. Despite seeing two impact players out due to injuries, Mobile kept things close with Faulkner, leading for much of the game. However, a big second half for the Eagles eventually handed Mobile their sixth loss of the season, dropping the overall record to 9-6 and 4-4 in SSAC action.
Faulkner's Big Second Half the Difference
Coming into Saturday's conference game with Faulkner, a high-powered offensive team that has averaged 85 points per game thus far, Mobile Head Coach Darnell Archey was without two key players on the roster. Both Trent Moye and DaMariee Jones recently suffered ankle injures, with Moye's being a season-ending injury, and were ruled out for Saturday's contest. Archey hopes to have Jones back by Mobile's next game on Jan. 12. Without two starters, though, Archey was forced to rely on other players from off the bench to take on the Eagles of Faulkner.
Throughout the first half of Saturday's bout, both teams traded the lead several times, but it was Mobile who led for the majority of the half and held a 29-23 lead at halftime. Archey was pleased with his team's defensive performance throughout the first half, keeping Faulkner to just 23 points despite their explosive offense. Coming out of halftime, the Rams went on an 8-2 run, seeing their lead extend to a game-high 14 points. However, Faulkner's offense got into a rhythm and eventually cut down the Mobile lead.
Following Mobile's 8-2 run out of halfime, the Eagles all of the sudden managed a 20-4 run through the next six minutes. With just over 12 minutes remaining in the game, Faulkner claimed the lead back from the Rams. From there, the Eagles managed to hold the lead for the remainder of the game, despite a late Mobile surge with under a minute left in regulation. The Rams managed to cut the deficit to just one point with under 10 seconds left, but Faulkner put the game away with two made free throws with just one second remaining. Mobile's PJ King took one last shot at half court to potentially tie the game and force overtime, but King's shot fell just short, bouncing off the front of the rim. The Eagles mounted a second half comeback for the three-point win.
Although Mobile was without two major offensive threats, the Rams shot well in Saturday's loss, tallying a 40% shooting line in the game. Mobile was outstanding from the free throw line, making 17 of 20 attempts, but struggled from deep, hitting just four of 19 three-point shots. In the rebound battle, Mobile had the edge, 32-27.
Ezra McKenna collected his 10th double-double of the season on Saturday, leading Mobile with 19 points and a whopping 18 rebounds, which marks a season-high. McKenna also added three assists in the defeat. Following his performance on Saturday, McKenna is now averaging a double-double on the season at 15.8 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. He is shooting over 73% from the field on the year.
Behind McKenna was Keon Walker, who notched his first-career start on Saturday. Walker got the start for the injured DaMariee Jones and finished with a career-high 15 points in the loss. Walker led all players at halftime with 10 points in the first half and added three rebounds and one assist to his point total. Additionally for Mobile, Pooh Frazier finished with 12 points and four rebounds, while Sage McKenna recorded 11 points and two boards. Frazier and Walker were responsible for Mobile's four made three-point shots in the loss.
Conference Rival Comes to Town
The Rams will return to action next Thursday, Jan. 12 in what is expected to be one of the biggest games played in Pharr Gymnasium on the season. Mobile will host conference rival William Carey next Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. CT tip. Thursday's matchup is the first meeting of the season between the two rivals.
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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.
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