MULTIPLEX AT CRAMTON BOWL | MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of Mobile Men's Basketball team, led by head coach Darnell Archey, advanced to the semifinals of the SSAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament in the early hours of Friday, Mar. 1, defeating rival William Carey University (Miss.) 85-68 at 12:30 a.m. CT. The quarterfinal game featuring the No. 4 and 5 seeds tipped off at 10:50 p.m. CT in Montgomery, Ala. after a long day of games from both the men's and women's tournaments that went later than expected.
Mobile earned the late win over William Carey for the first time this season after dropping both regular season games played during the year to the Crusaders. The win came in dominating fashion as the Rams led for over 30 minutes, with the largest lead of the night being 21 points.
Mobile improves to 21-8 on the season and will battle the top-seeded Firehawks of UT-Southern (Tenn.) in the semifinals on Friday evening in Montgomery.
Rams Roll to Semis
Mobile came out ready to play on a late night in downtown Montgomery, controlling the first 20 minutes against William Carey. The Rams led the Crusaders by as much as 11 points in the first half, with Mobile finishing the first shooting 55% from the field, while shooting above 60% through the first 14 minutes. Mobile finished the half making 15 of 27 shot attempts, draining seven threes as a team. Additionally, the Rams out-rebounded their rival 21-14 before the break where they led, 40-33.
Trent Moye paced all players with 11 points through the first 20 minutes, making three three-pointers. DaMariee Jones was not far behind Moye in the first with eight points on Mobile's side, adding three rebounds. A total of eight Rams scored at least one point in the first half.
For William Carey, the Crusaders shot just 37% in the first half, finishing 11-for-27 from the floor. They were led by Earl Smith and Dylan Brumfield with 10 points a piece. The Crusaders saw just five players score through the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Mobile continued the first-half momentum, only adding pressure on their rivals. The lead extended to as much as 21 points in the second half, with the Rams eventually scoring 45 points through the final 20 minutes and shooting exactly 50% from the field. William Carey had no answers for the Rams, who ran away with the lead and eventually won the game by 17 points.
As a team, Mobile finished shooting 52.8% as a team in the quarterfinal victory, while out-rebounding the Crusaders, 44-32. Sage McKenna led the Rams in scoring, notching a season-high 20 points and being one of five Mobile players to finish in double figures. McKenna finished one rebound shy of a double-double in the win.
DaMariee Jones followed McKenna with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Trent Moye collected 13 points. Starting point guard Joshua Williams recorded 10 points in the winning effort, adding four rebounds and three assists, and Treylan Smith managed 12 points in 16 minutes of playing time from off the bench. Ezra McKenna eventually finished one point shy of his 24th double-double this season, totaling nine points and 14 rebounds. The Rams scored 28 points in the paint and added 10 points off William Carey turnovers.
Semifinals Tomorrow Night
For the first time during the 2023-24 season, Mobile is set to face UT-Southern on Friday night, Mar. 1 in Montgomery, Ala., with a spot in the SSAC Men's Basketball Championship finals on the line. The Rams will need to pull an upset over the 25-4 Firehawks as tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Winner advances to the championship game, scheduled for Saturday evening, Mar. 2.
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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.
