Jan. 18, 2005

UM Men’s Basketball Moves Up Nine Places To 7th Nationally

MOBILE, Ala. – On the heels of a 108-101 victory over 11th-ranked LSU-Shreveport which capped off another unblemished week, the UM Rams men’s basketball team (16-3, 5-0) jumped nine places to 7th nationally in the NAIA polls.

The Rams defeated Loyola University 70-48 last Monday and then followed that convincing win with an 82-56 win over Belhaven College this past Thursday night.

Tramaine Perry continues to lead the Rams with 16.4 ppg and paved the way for UM in their Saturday night game against the LSUS Pilots as he poured in 40 points, including 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.

The UM women’s basketball team (14-3, 5-0), also undefeated in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, moved up one place to 16th nationally in the NAIA polls which were released Tuesday afternoon.

The Mobile women are lead by the tandem of forwards Crystal Coston (19.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg) and Kinga Rybarczyk (15.4 ppg).

Both teams will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 20, against Xavier University in New Orleans. The men will look to avenge a double overtime loss suffered at the hands of the Gold Rush last year at The Barn while the women will look to take down the nationally 8th-ranked Gold Nuggets and stake a claim alongside the men with a top-10 national ranking.

-30-