CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Montana Western men's basketball team (7-4) faced a tough challenge on Saturday, taking on the no. 9 ranked The Master's University Mustangs. The Bulldogs ultimately fell 91-64 in a neutral-site matchup.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs took a brief lead in the opening minutes, highlighted by a three-pointer from
Jalyn Stepney and a jumper by
Alan Kane. However, The Master's responded quickly, unleashing a barrage of three-pointers and strong play inside the paint.
The Mustangs went on to build a 15-point lead midway through the first half. UMW struggled to regain momentum and despite contributions from
Billy Carlson and
Jacob Ankeny, the Bulldogs trailed 41-26 at the half.
Western continued to fight from behind, with Stepney continuing to lead the offense. A three-pointer from Stepney and a layup by
Kevin Bethel gave Montana Western brief flashes of hope, but The Master's answered each run with timely shooting and defensive stops.
The Bulldogs closed the gap to 18 points late in the game, but a final surge from the Mustangs solidified the 91-64 victory for TMU.
Notables
- The Bulldogs worked hard on the boards, totaling 13 offensive rebounds and 39 total rebounds as a team.
- Turnovers proved costly for the Bulldog as they committed 16, leading to 24 points for The Master's.
- Stepney led the way for the Bulldogs with 22 points, including four three-pointers and an impressive 8-for-9 showing from the free-throw line.
- Kane added 9 points and 4 rebounds, while Carlson contributed 7 points off the bench.
Up Next
Montana Western will close out their trip to Arizona with their final matchup tomorrow against Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.) at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
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