MONTGOMERY, Ala-- The University of Mobile men's basketball team shot only 35% from the free throw line and blew an early 20-point lead in falling 55-57 at 23rd-ranked Faulkner University Thursday evening in Southern States Athletic Conference action.

Mobile (9-6, 3-4) hosts Loyola University Saturday at 5 pm.

The Rams did not have anyone in double figures and were led by 9 points from Kwame Beard and 8 points each from Chris Richardson, Marcus Polnett and Cody Scott.

Maurice Whitely led a trio of Faulkner players in double figures with 12 points and 9 boards.

The Rams hit only 7-of-20 from the charity stripe, compared to a 15-of-22 effort from the Eagles. After starting out 5-for-10 from 3-point range in the opening period, the Rams went 1-for-12 from deep.

Mobile started out a collective 5-for-8 from 3-point range and jumped out to a 24-4 lead in the first 11:22 of action. Clinging to a 7-4 lead at the 15:51 mark, the Rams scored the next 17 points, helped by six Eagle turnovers. But, after the hot start, the Rams went cold and Faulkner finished the half on a 23-8 run. Over the final seven minutes of the half, the Eagles outscored Mobile 18-6.

Through the first 5:05 of the final half, the Rams were up 37-31, and then the Eagles went on a 13-0 run to take a 44-37 lead with 10:46 to play. In that time, the Rams went 0-for-3 from deep. Mobile fought back to cut the lead to 46-44 with 8 minutes to play. A pair of putbacks from Julien Sargent and a bucket from Calloway gave the Rams a 52-51 lead with 2:36 to play, and after a pair of Faulkner free throws, a Richardson 3-pointer put Mobile ahead 55-53 with 1:57 to play. From there, Mobile missed two 3-pointers and Faulkner went 4-for-4 from the free throw line to take the win 57-55.