H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM | MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Basketball team dropped a tough conference game to Loyola University (La.) on Thursday night, Feb. 20, falling to the unranked Wolf Pack, 72-70. The loss for No. 19 Mobile is the second consecutive defeat at home, with the Rams recently falling to Life University (Ga.) in Pharr Gymnasium this past Thursday. The Rams see the overall record move to 20-7 this year, while the SSAC record drops to 13-6 following the upset loss to Loyola.
The Basics
Mobile controlled the first seven minutes of the game on Thursday night, leading by as much as eight points over the Wolf Pack. Loyola did manage to shake off the slow start and even claim the lead halfway through the first half, however, with Mobile struggling to stop the Wolf Pack's consistent shooting. At halftime, Loyola took a 33-32 lead to the break, shooting 50% from the field as a team. Meanwhile, Mobile shot 48% in the first half, making 24 total shots from the floor. Mobile's impressive first half stat was the three-point percentage, with Mobile finishing 8-for-13 (61.5%) from deep through the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, the two teams continued the back and forth trend for the lead, with Loyola eventually outscoring Mobile 39-38 in the final 20 minutes to earn the win. Mobile had a chance to hit the game-winner with just seconds remaining following a Loyola missed free throw, but saw Joshua Williams' missed three-pointer seal the game for the Wolf Pack. Mobile's Ezra McKenna did manage to grab the rebound on Williams' missed three, but was not able to make the put-back layup in time before the buzzer rang.
Loyola finished with a 53% shooting line as a team in the upset win over Mobile, with the Rams shooting 49% as a unit. Ezra McKenna paced all scorers with 20 points, adding 10 rebounds for his 22nd double-double of the season. Treylan Smith followed McKenna with 15 points from off the Mobile bench, playing 22 minutes on Thursday. Loyola went on to out-rebound the Rams, 28-25.
Senior Day on Saturday
Mobile concludes the 2023-24 regular season portion of the schedule this Saturday, Feb. 24, with the Rams hosting Stillman College (Ala.) at 2:00 p.m. CT. Senior Day festivities will begin pregame, with the 2004 NAIA Final Four team being in attendance and recognized at halftime.
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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.
