Mustangs men's basketball outplay the Spartans

The Master's University men's basketball team continued their dominating start to the season with a 90-78 win over Missouri Baptist University at Abe Lemon Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. Friday afternoon.
 
The Master's was in control the entire of the game as they scored in the first 18 seconds and never tied or lost their lead for the rest of the game. Their largest lead was a 20-point difference that came from a layup made by senior Kaleb Lowery more than five minutes left in the game.

The Mustangs defense only allowed 5 of 17 (29%) 3-pointers Missouri Baptist shot, but 23 of 43 (53.5%) overall from the field. The Spartans did make 27 of 36 (75%) free throws, but that was not enough to overtake TMU.

"I thought we defended pretty well for most of the game," said TMU Head Coach Kelvin Starr. "I thought we saw a few mistakes here in there but, for the most part, I think for the first 10 minutes of the game we set the pace pretty good and jumped on them pretty well."
 
The Mustangs also offensively outplayed the Spartans, making 9 of 22 (41%) 3-pointers they attempted and 37 of 64 (58%) shots they had from the field.
 
Lowery led the Mustangs with a 27-point performance, making 12 of 16 field shots and a 3-pointer while also leading the team with seven rebounds.

"Kaleb did a really good job, especially in the second half, kind of keeping us ahead by double digits, keeping the game stretched out," Coach Starr said.
 
Seniors Kendall Moore and Deaken Stangl led the team with five assists each, with Moore having 14 points and making all three free throws he had.
 
The game against Missouri Baptist was the first of two the team will play in the Abe Lemon Classic, hosted by Oklahoma City University. 
 
But their second game will be against the Langston University (OK) Lions, the No.1 team in the nation according to the NAIA Preseason Basketball Poll.

"It's fun to be able to play them," Starr said. "It's a good opportunity. They're loaded and extremely athletic and they play with a ton of energy and are well coached. We'll have to be ready to go but I think we're good enough. I think that if we show up and do what we're supposed to do it should be a good game."
 
They will play against the Lions on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Abe Lemon Arena.