MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball team returned to the road for their final two game road trip of the regular season on Thursday. The Firehawks fell behind by 11 in the final minutes but fell short in a comeback effort 70-65 to Mobile. UTS moved to 9-13 on the season and 6-7 in league play.
Three Firehawks scored in double figures. Zaiden Cross led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds. Mark Vance and Mike Bell, Jr., each added 10 points.
UT Southern jumped out to their largest lead of the game at the 16:23 mark, leading 11-5. The Firehawks would hold the lead for the next five minutes before the Rams pushed back in front. After a Mobile miscue fouling Koby Issac, his three free shots brought UTS back to within one. The Firehawks took advantage of a the biggest defensive stop in the half leading to a Cross layup to retake the lead 31-30. UM led 34-33 at the half. UTS shot 10-28 for 36 percent in the half and out rebounded the Rams 23-18.
Vance's layup in the first possession of the second aided the Firehawks to retake the lead by one. UM would push out to a nine point lead close to the 10 minute mark leading 51-42. Over the next five minutes, the Rams fended off the Firehawks to lead by 11 with five minutes left. UTS reeled off a 6-0 run powered by layups by Vito Vujovic and Vance as well as jam by Cross. UTS would close to within three in the final 20 second on two separate occasions, but would run out of ways to slow down the clock.
BY THE NUMBERS
37.5 – UTS shot 21 of 56 for 37.5 percent, five percent less than the Rams.
2 – UTS only connected on two trifectas, three less than UM.
21 – UTS made 25 trips to the charity stripe, making 21. UM made 17 trips making nine.
40 – UT Southern pulled down 40 rebounds, five more than the Rams.
6 – UTS' largest lead of the game was six, 11-5, with 16:23 left in the first.
14 – UTS committed 14 turnovers, eight more than UM.
9 – There were nine lead changes in the game.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to oppose William Carey on February 8. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. WCU defeated the Firehawks on November 16, 84-64.
FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding UTS Athletics by following the Firehawks on Twitter (@utsathletics), Instagram (@utsouthernathletics), and Facebook (@UT Southern Firehawks).