COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Master’s Beaten in 2 Overtimes

Westmont College outscored The Master’s, 11-3, in the final 45 seconds Saturday to take a 95-87 double-overtime victory in a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics semifinal basketball playoff game at Whittier College.

Westmont (20-10, 10-3 in District 3 play) hit seven of eight free throws, and Chris Brown and Justin Lord each added field goals to turn an 84-84 tie into a comfortable margin of victory.

For the game, The Master’s (21-11, 10-3) made just 60% of its shots from the line (27 of 45) and missed several key free throws that would have ended the game earlier.

With 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Westmont’s Lester Smith fouled The Master’s Joe Jon Bryant, who made the first of two shots to tie the score at 70-70. But Bryant, missed his second shot and the game went into overtime.

In the final 20 seconds of the first overtime, with The Master’s ahead, 74-73, Jason Webster made just one of two tries from the line, leaving the door open for Westmont’s Brown to tie the score with a basket. Damon Greer then missed two free throws, necessitating a second overtime.

Bryant led The Master’s with 27 points, 18 of which came in the first half. Webster scored 26 points and Tom Bruner, who fouled-out with 4:03 remaining in the first overtime, scored 12 for the Mustangs.

Mike Spears led Westmont with 19 points before fouling out with 4:21 remaining in the game.

Westmont has defeated The Master’s 28 times in 29 meetings.