H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM, MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Basketball team fell to the Blue Mountain Christian Toppers on Thursday night, Feb. 9 at home in Pharr Gymnasium, just the third loss at home the Rams have suffered during the season. Mobile led the Toppers by six at halftime, but allowed a Blue Mountain comeback in the final 20 minutes to eventually fall 72-63 and drop their ninth game of the season.
Mobile's overall record falls to 17-9 following the loss and 11-7 in SSAC play.
Big Blue Mountain Second Half and Foul Trouble the Difference
Mobile quickly got into foul trouble early in the game, being called for 11 total fouls through the first half. Two of Mobile's five starters were forced to watch the majority of the first from the bench due to foul issues, including Mobile's team leader in scoring, Ezra McKenna. McKenna played just nine minutes in the first half with two fouls, while brother Sage McKenna played 14 minutes with three fouls.
Foul issues were common on both sides as referees blew the whistle 21 total times for fouls through the first half alone. The fouls eventually led to a low scoring half, with Mobile leading Blue Mountain at halftime, 23-17. Both teams shot below 30% from the floor through the first 20 minutes as Mobile finished with a 29% shooting line, making eight shots from the floor. For Blue Mountain, the Toppers finished 6-for-26 from the floor in the first and made just five of 16 free throw attempts.
In the second half, the Toppers' offense came alive after a slow start through the first five minutes, eventually outscoring Mobile 55-40 through the final 20 minutes of regulation. With just over 14 minutes remaining, Blue Mountain claimed their first lead of the game and never looked back. Several times Mobile managed to cut the Toppers' lead to just one possession, but Blue Mountain managed to answer and hold the lead to win by nine.
In the loss, Mobile finished with a 37% shooting percentage, making only three three-point shots in the game. From the free throw line, the Rams shot above 80%, finishing 20-for-24, with DaMariee Jones finishing a perfect 10-for-10. Jones eventually led the Rams with 20 points and four assists. He added five rebounds and one steal.
Pooh Frazier tallied 17 points in the defeat, grabbing six rebounds, while also shooting a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Ezra McKenna still managed to finish with 13 points despite playing with four fouls for much of the second half, and Sage McKenna notched just two points with his four fouls, but led Mobile with nine rebounds. Overall, Mobile out-rebounded Blue Mountain, 38-34.
Two Games Remain
Following the loss, Mobile will take a week off before returning to the court as Mobile is scheduled to face Life University next Thursday night, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Next Thursday's game will be played in Pharr Gymnasium.
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.
