Santa Clarita, Calif. - The Master's College (4-0) led just 24-20 over visiting Arizona Christian University (1-2) at the halftime intermission but outscored the Firestorm, 39-20, in the second half of its 63-40 victory, Nov. 11, at Bross Gymnasium in Santa Clarita, Calif.
ACU plays perennial NAIA National Tournament contender Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 12, at Chase Gymnasium, at 4 p.m. Phoenix time.
ACU shot just .267 from the field and made 2 of 11 three-pointers in the first half and still managed to stay close, but Master's shot .500 (15-30) and made 7 three-pointers in the second half while ACU made just one. After ACU scored the first basket of the second half, cutting the Mustangs' lead to 24-22, Master's went on a 16-3 run, which included 13 consecutive points and led 40-25 with 13:36 left. Master's stretched the lead to as many as 29 points, 63-34, with 1:26 left in the game.
Coach Rick Roth comments, "We played a good first half but didn't shoot well all night. Our assists-to-turnover ratio left something to be desired with just 4 assists and 20 turnovers. John Irvine (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) gave us some excellent minutes in the post which I was glad to see."
Irvine led ACU in scoring with 13 points, making 5 of 8 shots and 3 of 4 free throws, and junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Wells H.S.) contributed 10 points on 5 of 7 shots, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Freshman guard Judah St. Amand (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) added 5 points and 4 rebounds, and sophomore guard Derek James (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma H.S./Vanguard University) gave ACU 4 points, 3 rebounds and one steal. Sophomore forward Daniel Cornelius (Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian H.S./Vanguard University) finished with 3 points with one three-pointer and 5 rebounds.
Junior guard Devin Dyer led three Mustangs in double figures, scoring 18 points on 7 of 13 shots, one three-pointer, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and senior guard Anthony Cammon added 15 points with 3 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Junior guard Leif Karlberg, added 12 points, 2 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, one block and one steal, and freshman forward Jon Hogan added 8 points, 2 three-pointers and 4 rebounds.
