H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM | MOBILE, Ala. - For the third time during the 2023-24 season, the University of Mobile Men's Basketball team played an overtime game in Pharr Gymnasium, falling to conference rival William Carey University (Miss.) 81-80 on Tuesday night, Nov. 28. The loss for Mobile drops the overall record this season to 7-2 for the newly-ranked No. 15 team in the NAIA, while moving the conference record to 2-1. Additionally, the loss is Mobile's first inside Pharr Gymnasium this year.
Game Recap: Rams Fall in OT Thriller
Mobile opened Tuesday's game against William Carey with the first basket of the night, but saw the Crusaders answer with 11-straight points before Mobile Head Coach Darnell Archey was forced to use a timeout. Throughout the remainder of the first half, Mobile was unable to reclaim the lead against William Carey and trailed the Crusaders for over 17 minutes in the 20-minute half. However, the Rams managed to tie the game with just under a minute remaining in the first half following two made free throws by Joshua Williams. With the game tied 37-37, Mobile's Sage McKenna knocked down a three-point shot at the halftime buzzer to give Mobile a 40-37 lead at the break.
The Rams made 16 of 34 shots from the floor through the first 20 minutes, recording a 47% shooting line as a team. Mobile only led the Crusaders for under a minute through the first half, but hit shots when it mattered most. Meanwhile, William Carey recorded a 34% shooting mark, making 14 total shots. However, William Carey managed to make six three-pointers through the first while securing several second chance opportunities following offensive rebounds.
In the second half, the Crusaders eventually took an 11-point lead over Mobile with just over six minutes remaining in regulation. Following a timeout called by Mobile, the Rams began cutting into the deficit, with Trent Moye and Joshua Williams recording clutch three-pointers in the closing minutes. Additionally, Treylan Smith managed to draw a foul following a three-point attempt with just seconds remaining and made all three free throw attempts to tie the game, 73-73. From there, Tuesday's game went to overtime tied at 73 a piece.
In overtime, both teams made quick layups in the opening seconds of the extra period, but the Crusaders never trailed Mobile in the added five minutes. Trailing by one point with 10 seconds left, Mobile's Trent Moye had an open shot to potentially win the game, but the ball rattled out of the basket as the buzzer went off to hand William Carey the upset victory.
Inside the Box Score
As a team, Mobile shot 44% throughout the game, making only seven threes in the process. The Rams shot well from the free throw line with an 81% mark, making 17 total free throws in the loss. For William Carey, the Crusaders shot 40% as a unit in Tuesday's meeting, relying on 26 second chance points following offensive rebounds. Both teams secured 44 rebounds each, but William Carey saw 18 offensive boards that led to the 26 points.Â
Ezra McKenna led Mobile individually with his sixth double-double of the season, recording 17 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday's loss. McKenna is the reigning four-time SSAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week at the start of the current week. Joshua Williams followed McKenna with 16 points, adding five assists and three rebounds. Trent Moye collected 12 points and five rebounds, while DaMariee Jones and Treylan Smith each scored 12 points in the defeat. Mobile only saw six players score against William Carey.
What's Next
Mobile hits to road to West Point, Ga. for the next game on the schedule, facing Point University (Ga.) in a conference game on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 2. Saturday's game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT and is the first conference game in history between the two programs.
The Rams defeated Point 72-62 in a non-conference game to begin the season last year.
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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.
