MONTGOMERY, Ala. – (Box Score) No. 6 Blue Mountain Christian knocked off No. 3 seed Mobile Thursday night at the SSAC Championship 62-61, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.

As the game spilled over past midnight and the final whistle was blown, Ryan Sanders turned in another stellar performance for the Toppers, going for 26 points and six rebounds.

With a post-10 p.m. CT start to the final game of the day, the Toppers were sluggish offensively in the first half, going only 8-for-33 from the field.  Mobile led 25-19 at the break.

The Toppers woke up in the second, eventually getting the lead and getting a huge three from JonDarius Warren with less than a minute to go in the game.

On the next Mobile possession, Warren picked off a pass taking it the length of the floor and getting fouled by Pooh Frazier, hitting 1-of-2 from the line.

With less than a second to go in the game, Mobile's Damari Jones got an offensive rebound, scored under the bucket, and got fouled, but couldn't convert the free-throw, giving the Toppers the victory.

Warren would finish with 14 points for the Toppers, hitting 2-of-4 from deep, while Manny Patrick chipped in seven points and four steals.

"Our guys showed a lot of heart and will to get this win," BMCU head coach Jermael Bingham said.  "We gutted out a slow start and just kept making plays.  Our defense created a lot of turnovers that helped us get over the hump and get in position to win the game.  I'm really proud of our team."

BMCU (18-10) will play No. 2 seed Faulkner Friday at the Cramton Multiplex in Montgomery, Ala. with tip set for 7 p.m. CT. and a trip to the finals on the line.
 
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