Gorauskas Jams Up Azusa’s Master Plan

The first time it happened, it snapped a tie early in the Tuesday night’s nonconference men’s basketball game between Azusa Pacific and The Master’s College.

But the second time Master’s center Leo Gorauskas threw down a two-handed dunk on a Mike Penberthy lob, it broke the collective backs of the Cougars in a 101-89 Mustang victory.

Azusa Pacific (5-4) narrowed a 13-point deficit to 79-72 with 5 minutes 50 seconds left in the game, but Gorauskas’ jam started Master’s on a 11-4 run that gave the Mustangs a 90-76 lead with 2:56 remaining.

“It’s kind of a communication thing between he and I,” said Penberthy, who scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half.

“We try to take advantage of it if they overplay him.”

Gorauskas, who had 26 points and 10 rebounds, scored six of the Mustangs’ 11 points during their pivotal run and Penberthy added the other five on free throws.

After the dunk, Gorauskas tipped in Joclin Julmist’s missed shot to give Master’s an 83-73 advantage and the Mustangs took an 87-75 lead a minute later after Gorauskas scored inside on an assist by Penberthy, who had eight in the game.

The Master’s (5-3) ended a rare two-game losing streak and gave the Mustangs their first victory without sixth man Reggie Robinson, who missed his second consecutive game with an injured back.

“This was a pretty important win for us,” Gorauskas said. “After the loss to Biola [on Friday night], it was a big lift to win, especially without Reggie.”

Jerome Joseph added 17 points and five assists for Master’s. The freshman point guard from Chatsworth High scored 12 points on six-of-eight shooting in the first half when Penberthy was held to four points.

Dameon Page scored 27 points for Azusa Pacific. He made six of seven shots during one stretch and connected on 10 of 16 in the game.

Master’s trailed, 41-38, at halftime after being outscored, 22-10, in the last seven minutes of the half.