Hicks’ 37 Lifts SUNO Past Mobile in Double-OT Thriller

NEW ORLEANS — Jaylon Hicks delivered a career-high 37 points and Southern University at New Orleans outlasted the University of Mobile, 90–87, in a dramatic double-overtime victory Tuesday night at The Castle.

SUNO (9–11, 6–2) relied on poise, rebounding, and late-game execution to secure the win in a contest that featured nine ties and seven lead changes, with the Knights making the decisive plays in the final minutes of the second overtime.

Hicks carried the offensive load for SUNO, finishing 12-of-25 from the floor and 12-of-14 at the free-throw line while adding seven assists and nine rebounds in 47 minutes. Dorian Booker anchored the paint with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Jermaine Lawrence provided a dominant two-way performance, posting 11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and a game-high six blocks.

SUNO controlled much of the opening half, building a 15-point lead behind aggressive defense and second-chance scoring. The Knights limited Mobile to 32 percent shooting in the first half and held the Rams without a three-pointer before halftime, taking a 34–28 advantage into the break.

Mobile surged in the second half, shooting better than 50 percent and repeatedly answering SUNO runs. With the Knights holding a two-point lead in the final seconds of regulation, Mobile's Zion Hunter knocked down two free throws with 22 seconds remaining to force overtime at 72–72.

The first overtime mirrored the physical nature of the second half. A key three-pointer from Lawrence gave SUNO a late edge, but Mobile responded once again, tying the game at 80–80 in the final seconds to extend the contest.

In the second overtime, SUNO delivered its most composed stretch of the night. Lawrence opened the period with a mid-range jumper off a feed from Hicks, then followed with a defensive stop and rebound on the ensuing possession. Moments later, Booker finished strong in the paint to push the lead to 86–80, marking SUNO's largest advantage since the first half.

Mobile cut the margin to one with under 30 seconds remaining, but the Knights responded with one of the defining sequences of the game. After a defensive stop, Erroll Smith calmly knocked down a short jumper with 11 seconds left to give SUNO a three-point cushion. On Mobile's final possession, Lawrence contested the shot and secured the rebound to seal the victory.

"We made winning plays when it mattered most," SUNO head coach James A. Matthews, III said. "The second overtime was about discipline — getting stops, finishing possessions, and trusting our spacing offensively."

Matthews credited his team's rebounding and defensive effort for swinging momentum late.

"Jermaine was huge for us down the stretch," Matthews said. "Those blocks, those rebounds — that's effort and awareness. That's how games like this are won."

The Knights finished with a 54–35 rebounding advantage and scored 17 second-chance points, which proved critical in offsetting Mobile's late shooting surge.

"This group keeps fighting," Matthews added. "They stayed together through every swing of the game, and that's something we can build on moving forward."

SUNO returns to action on Saturday, January 24, when the Knights host Tougaloo College in an HBCU Athletic Conference matchup at The Castle. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT.