Okenwa Enables Master’s to Continue Roll

It has not happened often this season, but Saturday night The Master’s College rode the broad shoulders of Emeka Okenwa to an 84-75 victory over Biola in a nonconference men’s basketball game.

Okenwa, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound center from Owerri, Nigeria, scored 24 points--including 16 in the second half--as the Mustangs won their 11th consecutive game and their 19th in the last 20 before a partisan, standing-room only crowd of 1,400.

Okenwa scored 14 of the final 25 points for Master’s, including nine of the last 11.

“It’s a credit to this team that we’ve had a lot of different guys step up for us this season,” Master’s Coach Bill Oates said. “And tonight, Emeka just took over.”

Master’s (22-3) was clinging to a 73-69 lead with 2 1/2 minutes to play when Okenwa made a series of moves.

He hit a pair of free throws with 2:32 left to give the Mustangs a six-point lead.

He added two more 19 seconds later to give them a 77-69 advantage, and following a basket by Biola’s Chris Sandahl, he made another two free throws to give Master’s a 79-71 edge.

The Eagles (18-9) narrowed the deficit to 79-75 with 38 seconds to play, but Okenwa rebounded a missed free throw by Andy Thompson with 36 seconds remaining, scored on the put-back and converted the free throw after being fouled by Johnny Debbs.

“Because they were playing behind me, I had a chance to get the ball and turn to shoot,” Okenwa said. “To beat Biola is big for us. It’s fun.”

Master’s had a 57-45 lead midway through the second half, but Biola went on a 18-10 run to narrow its deficit to 67-63 with 5:23 left.

Five different players scored points during the run for the Eagles, who were led by Debbs with 22 in the game.

James Mosley scored 17 points for Master’s and Doug Leaman added 13 as Oates chalked up his 620th victory during a coaching career that has included stints at the high school, junior college, NCAA Division I, international (Athletes in Action) and now NAIA level.

Master’s led, 41-28, at halftime as Okenwa hit a fall-away 14-foot jumper with two seconds remaining to give the Mustangs their biggest lead.

Okenwa was one of three Master’s players who scored eight points in the half. Thompson, the point guard, and Mosley, a forward, were the others.

Biola was led by Debbs, a 6-7 left-hander from Phoenix, who scored 11 points in the half.

Biola scored the first basket, but Master’s did not trail again, scoring on nine of its next 10 possessions to take a 19-9 lead with 11:19 left in the half.