FULLERTON, Calif. — Third-seeded The Master’s used a strong second-half performance and balanced scoring effort to defeat second-seeded Hope International, 78-73, Thursday night in the GSAC Men’s Basketball Championship Semifinals at Darling Pavilion, securing a spot in Monday’s conference title game.
With the win, The Master’s improves to 20-9 overall and advances to host No. 4 Benedictine Mesa in the GSAC Championship Game on Monday at 7 p.m. PT in Santa Clarita, Calif.
The semifinal matchup featured two teams familiar with high-pressure postseason basketball, and the contest largely lived up to expectations. Hope International (23-6) opened the game shooting efficiently from beyond the arc, knocking down six first-half three-pointers to build an early eight-point advantage.
The Royals led 14-6 midway through the opening half before The Master’s gradually settled in defensively and began to control the tempo. A three-pointer from Brayden Miner sparked the turnaround, while Quincy Phillips and Avery Jackson helped erase the deficit during a steady scoring stretch.
The Mustangs closed the half on a 9-4 run, highlighted by interior finishes from Phillips and Jackson, to take a 33-29 lead into the break.
The second half featured multiple momentum swings as both teams traded baskets early. Hope briefly reclaimed the lead just over a minute into the period, but The Master’s responded with one of the decisive stretches of the night. Back-to-back three-pointers from Jackson and Miner helped ignite a run that pushed the Mustang advantage to multiple possessions.
Jackson finished with a game-high 24 points while knocking down four three-pointers and converting key free throws late. Phillips added 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, providing stability against Hope International’s defensive pressure. Miner supplied a major lift off the bench with 18 points, including four made shots from beyond the arc.
The Master’s shooting improved significantly after halftime, connecting on 52 percent of its field goal attempts in the second half while going 14-for-15 at the free-throw line during the final 20 minutes — a critical factor in holding off Hope International’s late push.
Hope International remained within striking distance throughout the closing minutes behind CJ Fisher, who led the Royals with 14 points, while Darvelle Wyatt added 13 and Nick Hopkins contributed 12. The Royals trimmed the deficit to three in the final seconds, but The Master’s calmly sealed the victory at the foul line.
Defensively, the Mustangs capitalized on turnovers, converting Hope International miscues into 21 points while also receiving 20 points from their bench unit in a balanced team effort.
The Master’s now turns its attention to a championship opportunity on its home floor Monday night with the GSAC Tournament title and an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship on the line.