Spring Hill College got back on the winning track and recorded a season sweep of its arch-rival Saturday, knocking off the University of Mobile, 89-78, at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
Spring Hill (3-4) snapped a three-game losing streak (two regular-season games, one exhibition) with its win over Mobile (4-3) and the Badgers' last win prior to Saturday actually came over Mobile, as Spring Hill edged the Rams, 74-73, on Nov. 17.
The Badgers led, 18-12, midway through the first half after a basket by
Brandon Fischer, but Mobile worked its way back into the game before taking a 26-24 lead on a D.J. Hill bucket in the paint with 4:20 left before halftime.
The teams went back-and-forth the rest of the half - which had five ties - before Mobile went into halftime with a 34-30 lead behind 16 points and four rebounds from Darius Curry. Fischer kept Spring Hill close with 12 points (on 6-of-8 shooting) and three rebounds of his own.
The second half was all Spring Hill on the scoreboard, as the Badgers outscored Mobile, 59-44, to take control and pull away down the stretch. Spring Hill made 18 of its 30 shots (60 percent) over the final 20 minutes, including 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) from 3-point range, to put up its second-highest point total of the season.
Mobile still led 45-37 after a basket by Curry with 17:42 to go, but a 9-0 run by Spring Hill over the next four-plus minutes erased the deficit and got the Badgers back in the game.
The teams traded the lead and finished the contest with 11 ties before a
Jared Holland 3-pointer finally gave the Badgers the lead for good at 72-69 with 3:05 remaining. Mobile was still within 78-76 after a pair of Tony-Toni Wright free throws with 1:04 to go, but Spring Hill closed the game with an 11-2 run - including scoring the game's last seven points - to finally put the Rams away.
Jordan McIlwain led Spring Hill with a double-double of 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Fischer finished with 16 points and four rebounds,
Gresyn Rogers had 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals,
Justin Allison pitched in 11 with three rebounds and
Jeffery Pharr chupped in 10 and four rebounds for the Badgers, who outrebounded Mobile, 40-29, in the win.
Curry poured in 22 with six rebounds to pace Mobile, followed by Wright (18, six rebounds, three assists).
The Badgers don't get to enjoy their win for long, as they hit the court again Tuesday, hosting Auburn-Montgomery in a non-conference game. The Warhawks won the previous meeting this season, 72-58, back on Nov. 25 in Montgomery. Tipoff at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center is set for 7 p.m.
