Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. (March 7, 2023)- The St. Thomas University (STU) Men's Basketball team defeated The Masters University in the first game of the NAIA Tournament, by a score of 84-61.
Fred Mulbah had one of his best games in a Bobcat uniform, scoring 26, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Joshua Thrower also had the best game in his young career, getting a double-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Bobcats got off to a slower start, with the Mustangs taking an early 5-point lead.
Fred Mulbah however got STU on track, drilling one from behind the arch. A few minutes passed with some silent back and forth basketball, but the Masters would hit a three to boost their lead.
Fred Mulbah had the answer, making another from behind the line to keep it close. Don't get sick of his name yet because you're going to keep hearing it.
Fred Mulbah tied the game up at 8 with a jumper, followed by more points from Mulbah this time at the glass to give the Bobcats their first lead of the night.
Dalon Dean and
Joshua Thrower went back to back to take control early, and show this Bobcats team is for real. The Mustangs then respond with a three of their own to keep it close and manageable. STU sat back a little too much, and the Masters took advantage taking a 2-point lead with just under 12 to play in the first half. Not letting the Mustangs have the lead for long,
Fred Mulbah tied it up at 18 with a finger roll of the board.
Jordan Hernandez and
Fred Mulbah got the lead back once again with a quick back and forth two buckets.
With just about 7 minutes to play in the first
Fred Mulbah put the Bobcats up 5 going up and down the floor twice. Two minutes passed with nothing to show on offense for STU.
Dalon Dean once again broke the long silence with a jumper just outside the paint for the 32-27 lead. Nearing the end of the first half, the Bobcats went on a little run to set the tone for half number two.
Dalon Dean drained a three to give the Bobcats a 41-32 lead heading into the locker room.
The start of the second half went just about how STU would want it to go.
Dalon Dean picked right back up, hitting a jumper to give the Bobcats a double-digit lead. The Bobcats however would once again loose some concentration and the Mustangs got to within 5-points. The lead was restored when
Dalon Dean hit another jumper just outside the paint, followed by
Joshua Thrower using his big body to work his way to the glass, and getting one to fall. Right after that bucket
Joshua Thrower again with a muscle layup, gave the Bobcats their double-digit lead back.
Just under 15 minutes to go,
Fred Mulbah gave STU a 14-point lead hitting the "Mulbah Jumper Special". When a point guard can create space at the top of the key, and you never know if he's going to pop a jumper or move it outside, it's a problem for a defense. Moving on, seconds later
Fred Mulbah drove to the net, banking one high of the glass. Receiving a pass from the assist leader
Fred Mulbah,
Justyn Rogers broke free inside going up against the Mustang big for the easy points.
Joshua Thrower was a menace all night on both ends. This time Thrower worked his way inside and wouldn't be denied at the rim. It's not over until it's over, but the way the Bobcats were playing, the Mustangs would have some work to do late.
With 6-minutes remaining the Mustangs pushed hard, getting to within 12. The Bobcats realized they stepped back some, and responded with four unanswered baskets, followed by
Milton Matthews throwing one down to put a stamp on it. The last points scored for the Bobcats came from the hands of
Kyle Feldman, as he put it through the legs of the Mustang defender, having a free lane to the hoop for the easy finger roll.
Box Score Notables
Up Next
The Bobcats will face off against the #1 seed in the bracket, Florida College.
-STU-
