Master’s Loses 16-Point Lead but Rebounds to Win

The Master’s College blew a 16-point lead and faced a three-point deficit with six minutes left but rallied to hand Concordia (Ore.) a 90-82 defeat Thursday in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Assn. basketball tournament in Cleveland, Tenn.

Master’s, which improved to 21-11 and tied a school record for wins in a season, will meet Tennessee Temple (18-13) today at 5 p.m. PST in the semifinals.

Jason Webster, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Master’s, which is making its first appearance in the tournament.

Tom Bruner added 13 points, including a basket with 3 minutes 29 seconds left that gave Master’s an 83-82 lead that it would not relinquish.

Concordia (16-16), which was outrebounded, 51-20, failed to score in the final four minutes.

“Our pressure defense finally wore them down,” Coach Mel Hankinson said.

Stuart Epperson, a 6-6 junior forward, scored 15 points and Bruner, a 6-6 junior forward, had seven rebounds. Joe Jon Bryant added 12 points and David Humphreys and Terry Minnoy each scored 11 for the Mustangs.

Master’s led, 32-16, in the first half but was outscored, 21-5, and the score was tied at halftime, 37-37.

Master’s was 32 of 65 (49%) from the field and 23 of 30 (77%) from the free-throw line.

Concordia finished 26 of 57 (46%) from the field and 24 of 28 (86%) from the line.