FULLERTON – CJ Fisher's putback basket with five seconds to play completed a double-digit comeback and sealed an 81-80 victory for No. 13 Hope International in a GSAC men's basketball showdown with The Master's on Tuesday from Darling Pavilion.
With the Royals trailing 80-79, Fisher grabbed the carom off a JD Davis three-point miss and converted the layup, getting fouled in the process. Avery Jackson rebounded Fisher's missed free throw, sprinting the length of the court for an off-balance three that hit the right side of the rim as the buzzer sounded.
The win – the fifth straight for the Royals – required HIU to overcome a second half deficit as large as 12 points. Brayden Miner, who scored 20 points and hit five three-pointers, gave the Mustangs a 70-58 lead on a layup with 8:22 to play.
HIU trailed 74-64 with 4:28 remaining, but outscored TMU 17-6 the rest of the way.
Jorren Edmonds made three key midrange jumpers, bringing the Royals within 78-74 with 2:05 to play. TMU's Quincy Phillips, the game's leading scorer with 21 points, knocked down back-to-back buckets and the visitors led 80-74 with 1:32 left.
But the freshman Davis, who had four points, two assists and a steal over the final six minutes, fed Fisher for a crucial three with 1:21 to go as the Royals trailed just 80-77. After HIU got a stop on the next TMU possession, Davis made two free throws to bring the home team within one.
The Royals got another defensive stop. A three-point attempt from Davis missed, but Fisher leaped above the crowd to corral the rebound, and his putback was good as HIU led 81-80 with five seconds remaining.
HIU survived a three-point shooting onslaught from TMU, which finished 14 of 40 from distance. Conversely, the Royals were just 2 of 20 from beyond the arc, although Fisher's late three counted when his team needed it the most.
HIU shot 31 of 45 on two-point attempts, finishing at 50.8 (33 of 65) percent overall for the game.
TMU bombarded the Royals with 10 of its 14 threes in the first half, and pulled out to a 33-22 lead on a Jazen Guillory triple with 5:41 left. However, HIU answered with a 13-2 run to tie the score at 35-35.
The Mustangs got back-to-back three-pointers from Phillips and Caden DeVries to lead 41-35 at halftime.
Fisher had a monstrous game, posting career-highs in points (18) and rebounds (13) while tying his career-best with five steals. He posted a double-double for the second time in three games.
Edmonds shot 8 of 14 en route to a 17-point effort, while Nick Hopkins and Aman Haynes chipped in 14 points apiece.
The Royals improved to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in the GSAC. TMU dropped to 10-6 and 3-1 in conference action.
HIU welcomes No. 22 Benedictine Mesa to Darling Pavilion in a showdown for first place in the GSAC on Saturday. Tip time is 2:00 p.m. The Redhawks enter the game 16-0.
