The Master's men's basketball team had the halftime lead but could not hold it, losing to the No. 19 Oregon Tech Owls 83-78 Monday in the opening game of the HIU Thanksgiving Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
The Mustangs (4-4) were called for 16 fouls in the final 20 minutes of the game, sending the Owls to the free throw line for 23 shots were they made 15. Oregon Tech were called for eight fouls, resulting in TMU going 8 for 10 from the line.
Overall Master's shot 46% from the field, but could only net 4 of 18 from 3-point range. They did finish 18 of 21 from the line, however.
"We didn't attack enough," said TMU Head Coach Kelvin Starr. "Look, it's a fine line, and when it came down to it, they made plays and we didn't. In order to beat nationally ranked teams we are going to have to make plays. And right now we aren't making those plays."
The Mustangs were able to take a 40-35 lead thanks in large part to
Quincy Phillips's 14 points. The sophomore guard from Long Beach, Calif. hit 3 of 7 from the feld but was a solid 7 for 8 from the free throw line.
TMU held a slight lead up until the 12:22 mark of the second half when a layup by the Owls's Grant Tull gave Oregon Tech the lead. That lead stayed within three points until with 6:26 to play, Tull hit another layup to increase the lead to 62-57.
Master's was able to cut it to within two with 3:36 to play, but back-to-back jumpers made by the Owls created enough of a cushion for Oregon Tech to finish with the 5-point win.
"We've got to get better as coaches preparing our guys to play and guys have to make the plays," Coach Starr said. "Don't get me wrong, there were some good moments in this game, like how we were in a position to win it late. Our team needs to learn how to win these kind of games."
Phillips finished with a team-high 22 points, with
Parker Tuttle coming off the bench to get 14.
Nate Boakye finished with 13 and
Tiago Soares had 12.
The Master's will play their final game of the HIU Thanksgiving Tournament on Tuesday when they face the Raiders of Southern Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Fullerton, Calif.
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