FULLERTON – The Master's utilized a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers to defeat Hope International 78-73 in the GSAC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals on Friday at Darling Pavilion.
Both teams hit 10 three-pointers. But HIU had difficulty imposing its typically potent inside game, as GSAC Player of the Year Nick Hopkins and GSAC Freshman of the Year Aman Haynes – two of the top scorers in the conference – were limited to a combined nine field goal attempts. TMU swarmed the post each time HIU tried to gain entry, and 4 of 14 shooting from distance in the second half plagued the Royals.
HIU started hot as Darvelle Wyatt hit three consecutive triples in the first minute and a half to build a 9-3 lead. The Royals led by as many as eight as Addy G'Bye's three made it 14-6. But the Royals had a five minute scoreless drought as the Mustangs tied the score at 14-14 following an 8-0 run.
Neither team led by more than four points over the final 10 minutes of the first half, and TMU went into halftime up 33-29.Â
Wyatt and Jorren Edmonds knocked down threes immediately to start the second half, but the Mustangs answered with a 9-1 run to take a 42-36 lead following back-to-back triples from Avery Jackson and Brayden Miner.
The Mustangs did not relinquish their lead from there, building a 65-53 cushion with 5:27 on the clock. The Royals were held to just two field goals over a seven-minute period.Â
HIU (23-6) picked up its defensive pressure and trapped the Mustangs into four late turnovers, which helped the second-seeded hosts to whittle the deficit to 71-68 on a JD Davis jumper with 49 seconds left.
But Miner's dagger three insulated the Mustangs from an HIU comeback. Jazen Guillory went 4 of 4 from the line to ice the game for the Mustangs.
Fisher led the Royals with 14 points, while Wyatt and Hopkins added 13 and 12, respectively. Haynes and G'Bye contributed nine points apiece.
TMU got a game-high 22 points from Jackson and 21 from Quincy Phillips.
The No. 3 seed Mustangs (20-9) host fourth-seeded Benedictine Mesa, which upset top-seeded Arizona Christian on Friday, for the GSAC Tournament championship on Monday night.
HIU awaits the NAIA postseason selection process, as the 64-team Selection Show takes place on Thursday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. (PT).
