South Alabama basketball beat the University of Mobile 70-51 on Wednesday in the first meeting between the two programs, using a 17-0 first-half run to win its fourth consecutive game.
The Jaguars, coached by Ronnie Arrow, improved to 7-2 and never trailed against the Rams, an NAIA program located in Mobile. The game matched two schools from the same city for the first time on the basketball court.
17-0 Run Decides It
The Rams pulled within 14-13 with 13:50 left in the first half. South Alabama then scored 17 straight points over the next 9:29 before a Mobile 3-pointer ended the run with the Jaguars ahead 31-16.
South Alabama shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and led 38-23 at the break.
Lead Grows to 26
The Jaguars stretched the lead to 24 points early in the second half and led by as many as 26. Mobile answered with a 12-0 run late in the game to get within 14, but South Alabama scored the final five points.
Tim Williams, Bryan Sherrer and LaShun Watson shared scoring honors with 13 points each. Martino Brock added nine.
Southern Miss, Sun Belt Opener Ahead
South Alabama hosts Southern Miss on Saturday at the Mitchell Center, with tipoff set for 7:05 p.m.
The Jaguars then open Sun Belt Conference play against Arkansas-Little Rock on Wednesday, Dec. 16. That game will be televised on ESPN2.
