Mobile Advances To The Final Four After 75-62 Win Over Oklahoma City University 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On their All-American campaign trail in the Midwest, juniors Tramaine Perry and Gimel Lewis will spend at least a couple more nights in Kansas City as the University of Mobile advances to the Final Four after defeating Oklahoma City University 75-62 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament. Perry led the Rams with 21 points and Lewis posted a 16-point, 16 rebounds, double-double in leading Mobile to their first semi-final appearance since 1999.

“Tramaine was the key when they went to a zone defense,” Niland said afterwards of Perry and Lewis’ performance. “He and Gimel were able to attack their big guy and the basket.”

A tight game in the early goings, both teams exchanged leads ten times before the Rams grabbed hold of the lead, 23-22, with 8:07 remaining. It was the one-man offensive attack of Eric Tatum that kept his Oklahoma City Stars in it as he had 16 points in the first half.

“He’s such a great player,” Coach Joe Niland said. “After two days of playing hard, and having to defend Tatum today, we just tried to keep a fresh guy on him. We rotated people and hoped that the pressure would wear him down.”

Gabe Feagin was charged with most of the responsibility of slowing down the NBA-scouted point guard. And while Feagin picked up four fouls by game’s end, he forced Tatum to turn the ball over six times and subsequently foul out with 4:47 remaining in the second half.

The Rams, who held a 41-34 halftime advantage, pressed and forced Oklahoma City into a deep state of fatigue as the Stars only had a seven man rotation.

The Rams used a 4-0 run to open up their biggest lead of the game, 56-41, with 13:52 remaining in the second half. It was at that point that Mobile made a noticeable switch in strategy.

Instead of pressing and running the floor the Rams slowed the game down and began to burn the clock.

“We still wanted to break the court, but still try and get easy baskets,” Coach Niland said. “Once it got under six minutes we were able to hold the ball and use the clock.”

Easy shots didn’t come, but Perry made things happen for the Rams as he scored 15 second half points. Some of them acrobatic as showed a full offensive arsenal of post moves, fade away jump shots, and switching to his left hand as he drew a foul falling to the floor.

“When I’m not on, there are other people that can step up,” Perry said. “I knew that eventually my shots would fall. At the end of the game I want to take the big shots.”

Perry got a boat-load of help from center Gimel Lewis who had his way in the paint, both in scoring and on the boards. Feagin and Larry Burgess each added 12 points.

Oklahoma City (20-12) was led by Eric Tatum’s 22 points and Jay Spurlock’s ten.

The Rams advance to play defending national champion and sixth-seeded Concordia University (Calif.) Monday at 8 p.m.  Concordia upset third-seeded Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) 61-58 earlier today.

“That’s as well-built a basketball team I’ve ever seen,” Coach Niland said, commenting on Concordia’s freakish size. “They are some stout guys. Tomorrow, hopefully we’ll rest a little bit and have time to prepare for them.”

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