Master’s Advances, 107-99

ORANGE — After missing four shots and a free throw in the last four minutes of the second half, Mike Penberthy of The Master’s College needed to redeem himself.

And thanks to teammate Doug Leaman, he got his chance as Master’s defeated Western New Mexico, 107-99, in overtime Monday night in the championship game of the NAIA Far West Region Independents basketball tournament at Chapman University.

The victory was the 16th in a row for Master’s and gave the Mustangs a school- record 29 victories against four defeats this season. More important, it qualified them for the 32-team NAIA tournament in Tulsa, Okla., beginning March 14.

Penberthy, who had a career-high 37 points along with 13 assists, hit a three-point shot to give Master’s an 88-81 lead with 4 minutes 27 seconds left in the second half, but Western New Mexico (19-9) went on a 12-2 run to take a 93-90 lead with 45 seconds remaining.

Master’s hit only two of six free throws and was unsuccessful on all five attempts from the field during that stretch, but Leaman made a three-point shot with 10 seconds left to tie the score, 93-93, and send the game into overtime.

Sam James, who scored 23 points for Western New Mexico, hit a pair of free throws to give his team a 97-95 lead with 4:16 left in overtime, but Penberthy’s three-point play with 3:21 remaining gave the Mustangs a 98-97 advantage.

Penberthy hit one of two free throws to give Master’s a 99-97 lead with 2:52 left and he assisted on three of the Mustangs’ final four baskets as Master’s closed the game with a 12-2 run.