Box Score Four different players scored in double figures as No. 10-ranked The Master's men's basketball team closed out the inaugural MacArthur Trust Classic with an 80-68 win over the UC Merced Bobcats Saturday night in The MacArthur Center.
While the shooting numbers and rebounds were virtually the same for both teams, it was the 20 UC Merced turnovers that led to a 26-9 points off turnovers TMU advantage that was the difference in the game.
It was a tale of two halves as the Bobcats were able to hit the locker room at the half up 42-30. A combination of good UC Merced defense that created missed field goals by the Mustangs led to TMU shooting just 11 of 34 (32%) in the first half.
But as bad as the first half was, the second half was a night-and-day difference. The Master's (5-1) outscored the Bobcats 50-26, shooting 22 of 47 (47%) from the field, to overcome the 12-point halftime deficit and win by 12.
"Nothing is given to you. You have to earn it," said TMU Head Coach Kelvin Starr. "And the second half was exactly that. You can't just walk into the gym and expect to win games. I was proud of how our guys responded in the second half. That's our culture. The effort, intensity and passion have to be there if you're going to be a great team."
Kaleb Lowery led the team in scoring with 18 points and also pulled down nine rebounds.
Kendall Moore poured in 14 points, with
Tiago Soares adding 12 and
Quincy Phillips coming off the bench to score 11.
Miles Mendes came close to his first career double-double as he scored nine points and snagged nine rebounds as well.
"I think Miles had the best game he's played since he's been here," Coach Starr said. "He used what God has given him at an elite level."
The Master's will get a week off before hosting No. 2 College of Idaho next Saturday in The MacArthur Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
