Master’s Gears Up for Another Run at the Good Life
TULSA, Okla. — Coach Bill Oates of The Master’s College had one message for his team at halftime Thursday: “Take care of business.”
On Tuesday, the No. 8-seeded Mustangs blew a 17-point halftime lead and had to rally in the closing minutes to beat Campbellsville (Ky.) in the first round of the NAIA men’s basketball tournament.
There were no such lapses in the second round.
Master’s extended an 11-point halftime lead and defeated taller Houston Baptist, 81-61, at the Tulsa Convention Center.
“We came out with more intensity than we did on the first day [of the tournament],” Oates said. “We were able to sustain our defense and that allowed us to get some momentum offensively.
“We also hit some big three-pointers, which gave us confidence.”
Master’s (28-5) made 14 of 28 shots, including seven of 13 from three-point range, in building a 43-32 halftime lead.
Defense did the rest.
Houston Baptist (28-6) made only 21 of 67 field-goal attempts (31.3%), including four of 17 (23.5%) on three-pointers.
The Mustangs’ victory sets up a rematch today at 2 p.m. (PST) with defending champion and top-seeded Life University (Ga.), which defeated Southern Tech (Ga.), 90-65.
Master’s played Life twice in the regular season, losing in Marrieta, Ga., 87-86, on Jan. 24 and in Newhall, 96-92, on Feb. 20.
It marks the first time the Mustangs have reached the NAIA quarterfinals since 1995. The game, which will be broadcast by KIIS-FM (1220), is the biggest in Master’s history.
“We expect a great game,” Oates said. “We will have to play an excellent game to beat them.”
Senior guard Joey Penberthy led Master’s with a team-high 24 points on eight-of-10 shooting from the field, including four of five from three-point range.
Penberthy scored 12 points to help the Mustangs open a 17-6 lead. He was equally hot at the start of the second half, hitting his third three-pointer seven seconds into the half. He scored seven more points before leaving the game with 12 minutes remaining and Master’s leading, 65-42.
“We executed well today,” Penberthy said. “We didn’t want them to get close this time. Our [defensive] intensity was a lot better and that helped us on the offensive end.”
Senior forward Reggie McFerren scored 20 points for Master’s. Junior guard Kenny Jackson, whose three-point basket with 26 seconds left produced a 78-76 victory over Campbellsville, added 13 points and junior forward Jacy Armbruster scored 10.
Michael LeBlanc, one of three starters 6 feet 8 or taller in the Houston Baptist lineup, led the Huskies with 15 points. But he made only five of 16 shots and missed all five of his three-point attempts.
Penberthy said the third time might be the charm for Master’s against Life.
“We feel good about our chances,” he said.
Master’s had trouble containing 6-4 sophomore guard Jimmie Hunter of Life in the previous meetings. The transfer from Memphis scored 39 and 37 points.
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NAIA MEN’S TOURNAMENT GLANCE
At Tulsa, Okla.
Convention Center
Thursday’s Results
Second Round
The Master’s 81
Houston Baptist 61
Lipscomb (Tenn.) 77
Central State (Ohio) 41
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 79
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 63
Georgetown (Ky.) 66
Union (Tenn.) 64
Faulkner (Ala.) 81
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 79
Life (Ga.) 90
Southern Tech (Ga.) 65
Spring Hill (Ala.) 77
Oklahoma City 67
Biola 71
Lambuth (Tenn.) 60
*
Today’s Games
Quarterfinals (Times PST)
Georgetown (Ky.) vs.
Faulkner (Ala.), noon
Master’s vs.
Life (Ga.), 2 p.m.
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) vs.
Spring Hill (Ala.), 4 p.m.
Lipscomb (Tenn.) vs.
Biola, 6 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Semifinals (Times PST)
Quarterfinal winners,
4 and 6 p.m.
Monday’s Game
Championship (Times PST)
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
