When members of The Master's University men's basketball team venture inside the three-point line during practice, dribbling into or around the painted area, they are well-aware of the presence that lurks.
"We know that if we're going into the paint Tim (Soares) is there," guard Darryl McDowell-White said of TMU's 6-foot-11 senior center. "So we have an awareness of that, and when other teams come in here, we're like, you can try whatever you want, but he's going to take it way from you."
Wednesday night, Soares did just that.
The Mustangs' all-time leader in blocked shots rejected seven more attempts in TMU's 81-69 win over Bethesda University inside the MacArthur Center. He had five by halftime and finished one shy of the TMU single-game mark he set against Biola as a freshman.
The No. 2-ranked Mustangs improved to 4-0 on the year and improved their home winning streak to 41 games.
Master's pulled away from the Flames as the first half wore on, knocking down a handful of threes and playing quality defense, and despite Bethesda's improved shooting after the break, the Flames (0-6) were never able to close the gap.
In addition to his defensive work, Soares scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three. Brock Gardner, equally efficient, led Master's with 16 points, and he added seven rebounds and five assists.
The Mustangs' play, at least during the first half when they turned a tight game into an 18-point lead, was characterized by quality ball movement and defensive anticipation.
Twenty of TMU's 29 baskets on the night were assisted and they came away with 12 steals.
That was likely one of the brightest spots for coach Kelvin Starr, who has said the Mustangs must be elite defensively if they are to find success this season.
That was certainly the case in Wednesday's first half. Master's held the Flames to two-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc and 28% shooting overall.
The Mustangs' goal for the year is to hold opponents below 40% shooting. And Soares' work in the middle makes life easier on everyone, McDowell-White said.
"We have confidence in our back line all the time, with Brock and Mike (Taylor) too," said McDowell-White, who had seven points, four assists and three steals, "but having Tim back home, we're confident that if they go inside he has our back, so we can pressure more up the floor."
If Soares carried TMU offensively after the break — at one point spinning into the lane and flushing a powerful dunk for two of his 10 second-half points — then Gardner, McDowell-White and Sam Boone did the heavy lifting during the game's first 20 minutes.
Gardner scored 10 points before intermission, McDowell-White had seven and Boone had eight on 4-of-5 shooting. It was Boone whom teammates praised afterward for providing a spark off the bench. He finished with 13 points.
"It's big time," Soares said of Boone's impact. "It means we have depth and we don't have to worry about foul trouble so much. He can do some damage."
Soares also said there is one benefit to playing a team that doesn't challenge him in the paint: He doesn't have to worry about foul trouble. On the whole, though, he looks forward to playing a team like Bethesda that is willing to take the ball at him. Starr was impressed with his big man's work.
"He changes the game," Starr said. "Seven blocks by anyone at any level is a lot."
Jordan Starr chipped in five points and seven assists for the Mustangs, who will host Westcliff University at TMU on Friday at 7 p.m.
