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Hope International University

MBB vs TMU3
88
Hope International HIU 21-9, 9-5
95
Winner The Master's TMU 22-7, 10-4
Hope International HIU
21-9, 9-5
88
Final
95
The Master's TMU
22-7, 10-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Hope International HIU 37 44 7 88
The Master's TMU 38 43 14 95

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Robert Nilsen

Royals Fall 95-88 to Mustangs in GSAC Semifinal OT Thriller

Fullerton, CA - The Hope International University men's basketball team (21-9) battled hard but fell 95-88 in an overtime thriller to the Master's University Mustangs in the GSAC semifinals on Friday evening at home in the Darling Pavilion.

The Royals came storming out of the gates to take an early 12-2 lead led by 8 points from Jalen Shores. The Mustangs answered to pull within 17-13 but Grant Sii nailed a three in response to put the Royals back up 20-13 with 11:33 to go. The Mustangs kept the pressure up as they rallied to take a 24-23 lead with 7:35 to go. Sii again answered with a three to put the Royals up 26-24 but it was a battle from there as the teams exchanged leads as the Mustangs went up 38-35 with :46 seconds left. The Royals then responded as Jozelle Carter Jr drove to the basket and laid the ball in to pull the Royals within 38-37 at halftime.

The Royals opened the second half like they did the first as they went on a 7-0 run with four points from Jalen Shores to take a 44-38 lead with 18:05 to go. The Mustangs would rally to get within 55-52 but the Royals answered again on a 6-2 run with another four from Shores as they went up 61-54 with 12:22 remaining. The Mustangs weren't done as they came back to tie it and then take a 65-63 lead with 7:58 to go. Like the first half it was a fight from there with the teams exchanging leads with the Mustangs taking an 80-77 lead with :35 seconds to go. The Royals quickly answered with a jumper from Carter Jr to make it 80-79. The Mustangs then went 1-for-2 at the line to take an 81-79 lead giving the Royals one last chance to take the lead or tie it. It was Sii who did so as he drove to the basket with 0.8 seconds to go to tie it 81-81 and send the game to overtime.

The Mustangs took the lead 83-81 but the Royals stayed right on their heels as Carter Jr quickly tie it 83-83. The teams would then trade buckets until the Royals got a stop on defense and then took an 88-87 lead as Shores went 1-for-2 at the line. The Mustangs would answer to retake the lead 89-88. The Royals looked to answer but shot attempts by Tristan Williams and Sii were just off the mark while the Mustangs finished strong as the Royals fell 95-88 in an overtime thriller. Shores led the Royals with a career high 25 points while Sii added 21

The Royals now await their fate as a likely at large bid for the NAIA Tournament with the opening round set to begin from March 15-16. Tune into the NAIA selection show on Thursday, March 7 at 4:00 PM to learn where the Royals will be going. https://www.youtube.com/user/PlayNAIA
 
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