Bakersfield Cuts Master’s to Size

A lack of big men proved disastrous to The Master’s College men’s basketball team in Saturday night’s nonconference game against Cal State Bakersfield and the Roadrunners sped to a 97-70 victory before a capacity crowd of 1,300 at Master’s.

With 6-foot-9 center Leo Gorauskas and 6-7 forward Sean Davis in foul trouble for much of the game, and with 6-8 forward Reggie Robinson missing his fifth consecutive game with a herniated disk in his back, the Mustangs (12-5) couldn’t control the Roadrunners’ inside game after halftime.

Led by Kebu Stewart’s 32 points and 18 rebounds, Bakersfield (13-3) ground down a Master’s team that lost to the Roadrunners, 102-96, earlier this season.

“They dominated us inside,” Mustang Coach Bill Oates said. “With Leo and Sean in foul trouble and Reggie out, we just couldn’t stop them.”

Bakersfield, the No. 7-ranked team in the NCAA Division II poll, was so dominant inside that 15 of the Roadrunners’ 22 second-half field goals came on shots within five feet of the basket.

Stewart was nine of 12 in the second half, when he scored 20 points.

Mike Penberthy had 28 points for Master’s, but he was only four of 11 in the second half after scoring 16 points on six-of-12 shooting in the first half.

Gorauskas had 14 points for the Mustangs, but 10 came after Bakersfield had taken a 65-47 lead midway through the second half.

Master’s trailed, 42-37, at halftime, but Bakersfield went on a 19-8 run in the first 6 minutes 48 seconds of the second half to take a 61-45 lead with 13:12 remaining.