Bryant Sparks Master’s to 83-65 Victory

Senior center Joe Jon Bryant, rising to the occasion in a first-round game of the National Christian College Athletic Assn. basketball tournament, scored 19 points Thursday to help The Master’s defeat Missouri Baptist, 83-65, at Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, Ind.

Bryant, who was averaging 10.7 points, recorded team highs of eight rebounds and five blocked shots and had four assists. He made all eight of his shots from the field and three of five free throws.

The Master’s led, 57-50, with 11 minutes 35 seconds remaining, then went on a 20-2 run over the next 7 1/2 minutes. Bryant highlighted the surge with two consecutive dunks.

Tom Bruner scored 23 points and Damon Greer had a team-high seven assists for the Mustangs (22-11).

The Master’s shot 59.7% from the field (37 of 62) compared to 37.1% (26 of 70) for Missouri Baptist (19-15).

The Mustangs tied the school record for wins in a season, set last season when the team finished 22-12. Master’s next faces Lee College of Cleveland, Tenn., in a semifinal at 3 p.m today.

Last season, The Master’s lost to Southern California College, 75-73, in the first round of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3 tournament.

The Mustangs then went to the NCCAA tournament and reached the final before losing to John Brown, 92-85.

This season, The Master’s lost to Westmont, 95-87, in double overtime in the semifinals of the NAIA District 3 tournament.