Master’s Best Shot a Little Short, 73-70

All-American guard Mike Penberthy of The Master’s College displayed a marksman’s shooting eye for one half, scoring 20 points in the second half Wednesday at the NAIA Men’s Division I basketball tournament.

But the Mustang senior came up one bullet shy, misfiring on a 22-footer with 8.3 seconds left that would have shocked Birmingham-Southern in a first-round game before 2,500 at Mabee Center.

Following a Birmingham-Southern free throw with 4.7 seconds left, Jon Ordonio’s effort from 25 feet bounced off the front rim as time expired, allowing the Panthers to escape with a 73-70 victory.

“It was a good look but I wasn’t set,” Penberthy said. “They were clutching and holding the whole game but that is the way it has been all year.

“We played hard and I thought all my teammates played well. It just wasn’t enough.”

The Mustangs (21-11) were making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NAIA tournament.

Senior guard William Burdette came off the bench to score 23 points for Birmingham-Southern, and John Woods added 16 points and six rebounds.

NAIA champions in 1990 and 1995, the Panthers (27-5) advanced to the second round and will face Southeastern Oklahoma (27-3).

Burdette took 11 shots, all from three-point range, and made seven, including a pair during an 11-0 run that gave the Panthers their first lead, 54-52, with 10:25 to play.

Another Birmingham-Southern reserve, Tom Henderson, had 10 points and four rebounds in the second half.

Henderson all but finished off the Mustangs with a drive and pass to Woods for a layup as the shot clock expired, giving the Panthers a 72-68 lead with 1:02 left.

“They played well and hit their jumpers,” Master’s Coach Bill Oates said, referring to Birmingham-Southern’s three-point shooting (11 of 22).

“We tried to defend them, but they did a real good job of spotting up and burying shots even when we were in their face.

“Mike [Penberthy] again played a real fine game. I’m real proud of the things he has accomplished [at Master’s].”

After a rugged first half in which Penberthy had more turnovers (three) than baskets (two), the 6-foot-3 senior made seven of 11 shots in the second half, including a pair of three-pointers, and finished with 26 points.

Penberthy ended his career as Master’s all-time leading scorer with 2,616 points.

While the Mustang star was harassed by a rotation of defenders in the opening half, Jerome Joseph took over the scoring role.

Joseph, a freshman point guard from Chatsworth High who was averaging 12.5 points per game, scored 15 points by connecting on six of seven shots--including three three-pointers--to help the Mustangs take a 39-36 halftime lead.

Penberthy hit his first four jumpers of the second half and 6-9 senior Leo Gorauskas followed up on a pair of misses and the Mustangs forged their biggest lead, 52-43, with 13:28 remaining.

But turnovers--the Mustangs committed 14--allowed the Panthers to rally and take the lead, 54-52, on Henderson’s steal and dunk.

Joseph finished with 17 points and three assists, and Gorauskas had 14 points and six rebounds.