Box Score The wait for the return of Mustang men's basketball finally ended Tuesday night in Lancaster, Calif.
After last season's sudden conclusion in March and a delay of the 2020-21 campaign, The Master's University competed for the first time in eight months in a 108-72 win over West Coast Baptist College.
Few had waited as long as Gavin Lloyd. The 6-foot-9 forward redshirted last season; and in his first game in 633 days, he went for a team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Eagles.
"The nerves are always high in a first college game, especially since my last game was in high school," Lloyd said. "But it was great to be out there helping the team get the win."
Lloyd was one of seven Mustangs to score in double figures in what was the program's highest-scoring season opener since at least 2003.
Also making his college debut, freshman Kaleb Lowery scored 15 points with seven rebounds. Johnny McWilliams added 14 points, and Ryan Beddeo and Davian Brown each contributed 13 points. Caden Starr had 11 points.
The No. 19-ranked Mustangs imposed their will around the basket, out-rebounding their hosts 56-27, with 16 offensive rebounds. Six of those came from senior Gavin DeJong, who finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
He also blocked three shots, as did Lloyd.
Junior Jordan Starr — the only returning starter from a team that went 23-8 before the coronavirus canceled what would have been TMU's fourth straight trip to the NAIA tournament — chipped in six points and a game-high 11 assists.
In all, the Mustangs had 32 assists, more than they had in any single game a year ago.
"It was awesome to see the guys just enjoy some normality," said Master's head coach Kelvin Starr. "It was so much fun to get back on the court."
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