SANTA CLARITA, Calif. --- Junior forward
Josh Miller scored a game-high 19 points to help Biola snap a two-game losing streak with a 65-51 victory over The Master's College in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at Bross Gymnasium.
The Eagles, ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA National Poll, improve to 24-4 on the season and to 14-4 in conference play with two games to go. The Mustangs drop to 17-11 overall and to 10-8 in the GSAC.
Biola played a solid game from start to finish at one of the toughest gyms to play at in the conference. The Master's entered the game with 12 wins in 15 homes games this year including victories over a number of tough GSAC teams. However, the Eagles would have little trouble, building a 10-point lead in the first half and not letting the Mustangs get any closer than seven in the early stages of the second half.
Miller led the way with 19 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the field including 4-of-6 from three-point range. The junior was also 5-of-6 from the free throw line, adding tw rebounds and an assist in 27 minutes.
Senior center
Rocky Hampton added is 11th double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. He also shot well from the field, hitting 6-of-9 of his field goal attempts and blocking three shots despite playing much of the second half with four fouls.
Senior guard
Danny campbell also finished with 12 points for the Eagles.
Biola shot over 50 percent from the field for the ninth time in its last 10 games, connecting on 54.5 percent (24-of-44). But, unlike its last few games, the Eagles' defense was back to its stingy self, allowing the Mustangs to shoot just 34 percent (18-of-53) and 27 percent from three-point range (7-of-26).
The Master's held an early advantage in the game, jumping out to an early 10-6 lead and holding a 12-8 advantage nearly 10 minutes into the game. But the Eagles turned things around with an 11-point run over a four-minute span, hitting three-straight three-pointers to cap the run.
After the Mustangs cut the lead to five a few minutes later, Biola stretched it right back to 10 thanks to back-to-back layups by Hampton, the last of which made it 29-19 Eagles with 3:10 to go before the half. A brief rally by The Master's got the crowd back into it a bit, but Miller quieted them quickly by draining a three with under 30 seconds to go before the half and Biola took a 34-26 lead into the locker room.
Biola wasted no time extending its lead in the second half, opening the period with a 12-4 run as
Clay Martin gave the Eagles a 46-30 lead just 2:26 into the period. Biola would lead by as many as 17 with 4:44 to go before a final run by The Master's made things interesting.
The Mustangs rattled off a quick 8-0 immediately after Biola went up 17, cutting the score to 60-51 with 2:04 to play. Raphael Harris capped the run with an exciting three-point play, but it proved to be the final point The Master's would score on the night. Biola hit 5-of-6 free throw attempts down the stretch and leave Bross Gymnasium with a key GSAC victory.
Biola shot 56 percent in the first half, connecting on 14-of-25 from the field including 6-of-12 from three-point range. The Eagles would come down to earth a bit in the second half, converting only 10 of 19 shot attempts (52.6 percent), but by then the damage was done.
Dean Hadley led the way for the Mustangs, scoring 16 points and adding six assists. Thomas Millar added 13 points in the losing effort.
Biola returns home Saturday (Feb. 27) to close out the regular season portion of its home schedule. The Eagles face off against California Baptist University at 7:30 p.m. at chase Gymnasium. In addition to senior night festivites, which will happen before the start of the game, it will also be the homecoming game for Biola. The game is expected to be a sell out, so fans are encouraged to arrive early to make sure they get a seat! Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting the ticketing website at http://athletics.biola.edu/tickets.
