Master's defeats Bethesda in season opener

Coming off an impressive exhibition win over NCAA Division II Azusa Pacific University, one might have presumed a possible letdown for TMU Men's Basketball in its season opener on Monday night against Bethesda University.
 
The Mustangs started the game slowly, trailing for the entire first half, but showed mettle in coming back to defeat the Flames, 83-76, inside The MacArthur Center.
 
"I was proud of how hard we competed and we found a way to get it done," Master's Head Coach Kelvin Starr said.
 
Bethesda opened the game by scoring the first-six points, ultimately extending its lead to as many as 15 with just over five minutes left in the first half.
 
"That was a much-improved Bethesda team," Starr said, complimenting the visitors. "We struggled getting comfortable against the zone tonight and shot very poorly in the first half."
 
Caden Starr scored five points and added a nice outlet pass to Thomas Lowery for a layup as part of an 8-0 run that cut the Mustangs' deficit to single digits. A Johnny McWilliams 3-pointer then got TMU to within four at the half, trailing 40-44.
 
Two triples from Davian Brown helped Master's take a four-point lead of its own early in the second period. The Flames wouldn't go away though, with both teams exchanging leads until TMU began to pull away late.
 
A bucket from Jordan Starr, before a 3-ball and layup from Caden Starr put the Mustangs ahead by 10 with under a minute to play.
 
Sparking the second-half comeback was Brown, with four 3-pointers, and McWilliams' eight points after the halftime interval.
 
"Johnny did a great job tonight playing poised and taking two big charges," Starr said. "Davian shot well in the second half."
 
Five Mustangs scored in double figures, with Brown leading the way with 21. Caden Starr was next with 16, while Kaleb Lowery (11 points), McWilliams (11 points) and Jordan Starr (10 points) followed suit. Jordan Starr flirted with a triple-double, adding 12 rebounds and nine assists.
 
Master's (1-0) is scheduled to take on Southern Oregon University on Saturday at 2 p.m.