By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

The Mustangs had unfinished business.

In the midst of the most daunting gauntlet of games TMU has faced all season, the Mustangs were entering the most hostile venue in the GSAC at Vanguard University’s “Pit.”

The potential prize at the end of this trip to Costa Mesa was an outright Golden State Athletic Conference title, which had eluded the Mustangs two nights earlier.

TMU knew they would take Vanguard’s best shot, just like they had four weeks earlier in the friendly confines of Bross Court.

Vanguard started quickly and jumped out to a 12-5 lead, buoyed by the emotion of their senior night as well as the opportunity to upend the #1 team in the NAIA.

However, during the middle portion of half, TMU would flip the script during a 22-10 run that provided the visitors with a five-point lead with 6:59 remaining until intermission. The Mustangs would extend the lead and enter the break with a 42-33 advantage.

Hansel Atencia led the Mustangs 1st half scoring with 14 points on the strength of four made shots from behind the arc, but it paled in comparison to what was to come.

The Lions erased their halftime deficit tying the game at 54-54 with 12 minutes to play.

Then Atencia took over. It began benign enough with two free throws. Then a layup. And another free throw. However, the Mustangs still found themselves tied at 66. Then tied again at 68, and yet again at 72 with just under four minutes to play. Vanguard was providing all the resistance the Mustangs could handle.

The junior point guard scored the Mustangs last 10 points during the final three minutes of which proved to be just enough to hold off the host Lions after a potential game-tying three-pointer bounced off the rim with seconds to play. Atencia finished the game with 35 points on 11-14 (78.5%) shooting from the field. GSAC player of the year candidate, Lawrence Russell played all 40 minutes and complimented Atencia with 19 points of his own.

The Mustangs 27-2 (15-1 GSAC) accomplished the business at hand and returned to campus as the outright GSAC Regular Season Champions.

However, the chapter is now closed on the regular season, and the page now turns to preparations for the second season, which begins in the GSAC semifinals in Phoenix on Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 pm MDT (6:30 pm PDT). The Mustangs will face the winner of the quarterfinal match-up between Vanguard and Menlo.

Visit www.gsacsports.org for full coverage of the GSAC Basketball Tournament.