LAKELAND, Fla. – In a back-and-forth, up-tempo game, the Fire fell to The University of Mobile, 74-62, in their home opener at the SEU Classic.
Down by 13 points with nine minutes left, the Fire went on an 11-0 run and pulled within a bucket, 62-60, on a Joshua Blazquez layup with 4:08 remaining in the second half. The Rams, though, would own the contest's final three minutes with a 9-0 run of their own and 12 of the final 14 points in the game to take the win.
With the win, Mobile avenged a 78-75 opening season loss to the Fire last November, and tied the all-time series at two games apiece.
The Fire struggled from deep, only shooting 7-for 24, but kept the Rams close by outrebonding them 45-39 on the night.
SEU registered a balanced scoring line with Blazquez coming off the bench for a team-high 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. Nelson Reynolds and Montez Leath also came off the bench and both drained a pair of treys for 10 points and a combined 10 rebounds and two steals.
Kyonte Thomas chipped in eight points, five assists, three steals and three boards. Derek Murphy added six points on two triples and six caroms. Nathan Mikkelson pulled down nine rebounds and registered six points. Ahmad Johnson and Ja'Quay Randolph rounded out the line with five and four points to go with three and four rebounds, respectively.
Mobile was led by Ezra McKenna who had a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
After a pair of Thomas free throws tied the early contest at 2-2, Mobile raced out with an 11-2 run for a 13-4 lead five minutes into the evening. SEU pulled back to within two, 23-21, on a Thomas jumper at 6:22. The Rams scored the next 11 points and went on for a 37-29 halftime lead.
SEU netted nine points in a row early in the second 20 minutes and were within a single point, 42-41, with 15:43 to go on a Leath layup.
With the loss, the Fire drop to 1-2. They close out the SEU Classic tomorrow night against Our Lady of the Lake University. Tip-off is at 7 p.m..
