MOBILE, Ala-- Donte Walker played the role of hero Thursday night as the University of Mobile men's basketball team defeated Belhaven University 76-74 in SSAC West action at Pharr Gym.

Mobile (13-10, 6-2) sits in the top spot in the division and will visit Auburn University-Montgomery Saturday at 4 pm. Belhaven falls to 14-12 and 4-4.

The Rams never trailed in the final half and the game was only tied once, but that did not stop it from being a thrilling finish. Belhaven's Rob Wallace, who poured in 22 second-half points drained a 3-ball with 19 seconds left and Mobile defenders all over him to knot the game at 74-74. That is when Walker took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt, waited for an opening and slashed inside for the winning layup through several leaping defenders to give Mobile with 76-74 win with 4 ticks left. Wallace turned the ball over at the end.

Walker finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting, while Ji Kimbrough came off the bench for 23 points and 8 boards. Matthew Turner added 11 points for the Rams.

Wallace led all scorers with 31 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including a 6-of-13 effort from 3-point range. Nathaniel Roche' added 13 points and 8 rebounds.

The Rams finished 50% from the field, 43% (3-7) from 3-point range and 62% (21-34) from the charity stripe. Belhaven shot 47% overall, 47% (7-15) from 3-point range and 60% (15-25) from the charity stripe.

Mobile was able to hold on thanks in large part to a 1st half that saw the team build a 41-29 lead thanks to out shooting the visitors 52% to 36% and getting 15 points from Walker and 11 from Kimbrough. The Rams found themselves down 11-7 5:28 into the half before Walker went to work. The senior guard poured in 10 points over the next 5:19 to lead a 12-0 Mobile run and take a 19-11 lead. The Rams never led by less than 6 from there and took the 12-point lead into the break thanks to five points from Kimbrough in the final 42 seconds.