Oklahoma Not OK for Master’s

Oklahoma City University, buttressed by 10 dunks, shot nearly 60% from the field in dismantling The Master’s College, 108-85, in the second round of the NAIA Division I tournament Thursday.

The victory, before 2,772 in the Mabee Center, moves Oklahoma City (29-6) into the quarterfinals against defending champion Birmingham Southern, Ala. and ends the season for the third-seeded Mustangs (28-7).

The Chiefs, seeded 14th, are seeking their fourth NAIA title in six years. They won championships in 1991 and ’92 and again in 1994.

All five Oklahoma City starters scored in double figures. Reggie Garrett scored 31 points, Aaron Howell added 21, Shon Alexander 18 and Ryan Aduddell and Brian Smith 13 each.

Oklahoma City led at halftime, 56-41, expanded the lead to 20 points midway through the second half and led by as many as 30.

Mike Penberthy scored 30 points for Master’s, matching his total from Tuesday’s first-round victory over Claflin, S.C. He also had four assists.

Leo Gorauskas scored 20 points for the Mustangs and Reggie Robinson added 15 points and had 13 rebounds. James Mosley had eight points.

“They emotionally got going at the start and it continued throughout the game,” Master’s Coach Bill Oates said. “We didn’t mind the up-tempo game, but just didn’t get any stops on defense.”

Oates spent most of the afternoon calling timeouts after Oklahoma City had unleashed a run.

“They just beat us up and down the court,” he said. “Once they got rolling, I don’t know if there was a lot we could do.

“They either got a layup or an outside shot.”

Master’s staged a mild rally early the second half, trimming the margin to 10 points at 56-46. But that’s as close as it could get.

The Mustangs were making their third consecutive national tournament appearance. They lost in the first round in 1994 and won two games here last year.

“Obviously, we had a great year,” Oates added. “One game does not color a season.”

Oklahoma City shot a blazing 58.9%, including 11 of 21 three-point attempts.

It was the Chiefs’ second rout of the tournament. They blasted St. Xavier, Ill., 94-58, Wednesday.

They had similar performances the first two games of last year’s tournament when they were top-seeded.

But then Oklahoma City was upended by Pfeiffer, N.C., in the quarterfinals.