Master’s Heats Up in Time

MONTECITO —  After sputtering, coughing and wheezing like an old car in need of a tune-up for much of its season-opener against host Westmont, The Master’s College put together two consecutive well-executed offensive possessions late in the second half that led to a 75-69 victory Wednesday night.

The win was the Mustangs’ fourth in 37 games against the Warriors and their first at Westmont, but it didn’t come easily as they committed 27 turnovers in a very physical game.

“Once we started the game and I saw how physical it was going to be, I just told the guys not to worry about turnovers,” Master’s guard Mike Penberthy said. “I knew we were going to turn the ball over a lot because of the physical play, but as long as we played good defense, we’d be OK.”

Master’s led, 55-47, with 8 minutes 48 seconds to play after Reggie Robinson made a jump shot in the lane. But Westmont narrowed the deficit to 60-56 with 4:10 left before Penberthy hit a three-point shot and Sean Davis threw down a two-handed dunk off a pass from Jerome Joseph.

Joseph, a freshman point guard from Chatsworth High, had 16 points and seven assists. He also committed five turnovers.

Penberthy also had 16 points, but last year’s NAIA Division I All-American missed 12 of 17 shots and committed eight turnovers.