Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Arizona Christian University

OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
2023-24 GSAC Tournament Champs
Photo by Liza Rosales
95
The Master's TMU 22-8
96
Winner Arizona Christian ACU 23-7
The Master's TMU
22-8
95
Final
96
Arizona Christian ACU
23-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
The Master's TMU 51 44 95
Arizona Christian ACU 44 52 96

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Tim Gooszen

Arizona Christian Wins A Thriller- GSAC Champs!

Fullerton, Calif.- Playing in a GSAC title game that featured ten and nine lead changes, Arizona Christian survived a last second missed basket by The Master's to win the 2023-24 GSAC Championship 96-95 on Saturday.  For the first time in program history, Arizona Christian is the regular season and tournament champion in the same season.

Game Info
  • Game score: Arizona Christian- 96, The Master's- 95
  • Records: Arizona Christian- 23-7, The Master's- 22-8
  • NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian- 18, The Master's- 23
  • Location: Darling Pavilion, Hope International University, Fullerton, CA

ACU Stats For The Day
Inside the Box Score
  • The first possession for both teams resulted in a lead change as TMU hit one free throw and ACU made both
  • TMU forced three ties in the first ten minutes but ACU would move right back in front
  • ACU went ahead by seven twice with the last time coming in the form of a three pointer from Dominic Gonzalez
  • In a five minute span, the Mustangs countered and grabbed an eight point edge twice
  • At the break, TMU was ahead 51-44
  • TMU's Ty Harper scored 24 of his 37 points in the first 20 minutes
  • Hudgens topped ACU with 12 first half points
  • For the first 11 minutes of half number two, the Mustangs kept the lead
  • A precursor of heroics to come later, Flowers hit an "and one" to give ACU a 74-73 edge
  • The Mustangs moved immediately back in front followed by ACU reclaiming the lead
  • Hayden buried a three to ACU a six point cushion with 4:30 to play
  • TMU went from down six to up two in a 2:30 minute span
  • Tied 91-91 the teams exchanged acrobatic made baskets for a 93-93 game
  • With under 30 seconds to play, TMU took a 95-93 edge
  • At seven seconds, Flowers drove the right side of the paint, scored, was fouled, and made the "and one" for the game winning points
  • TMU had one last shot missed with an offensive rebound and the ensuing shot made but waived off as it came after the buzzer
  • The Firestorm won their second ever tournament championship pairing with a win in the 2019-20 season

Thoughts from Coach Rutter
"What a great game.  That is the third one possession game we have had with The Master's.  Both teams had guys make big plays.  Proud of our guys for how resilient they were tonight." 

"Mikah was fantastic on both ends tonight.  We have improved a lot in the last month, I am excited to still have a game in front of us to see what we can do."


Up Next
Arizona Christian has been selected as one of the host sites for the first and second rounds of the NAIA National Tournament on March 15 and 16.  The Firestorm will play in the second game on that Friday with their opponent to be named next week.
 
Print Friendly Version