Kamrin Oriol scored a career-high 28 points to lead The Master’s University men’s basketball team to a 102-91 win over the Vanguard Lions in Costa Mesa.

It was the third game in a row that the No. 18-ranked Mustangs (13-3, 2-0 GSAC) scored more than 100 points, and the fourth time this year.

On a night when his teammates struggled from behind the arc, Oriol hit 6 of 9 from long range as part of his career night. The reigning GSAC Freshman of the Year hit three of his threes in the final 9:34 of the game to keep momentum on the Mustangs’ shoulders.

Despite shooting below their season average from the field (44%), TMU dominated on the boards with a 55-32 advantage, including a 17-8 difference off the offensive glass that resulted in 17 second-chance points.

“We shot the ball really poorly, but what we did do is get to the offensive glass and hit our free throws,” said TMU Head Coach Kelvin Starr. “I’m happy we’ve started 2-0. Any road win in the GSAC is a good win. Vanguard is better than they were last year. They are a much improved team.”

The Master’s hit 35 of 43 (81.4%) from the free throw line.

The Lions led by as much as six in the first six minutes of the game, but The Master’s closed out the remainder of the first half on a 36-19 run to lead 48-37 at the break. Oriol, Ty Harper and Jordan Caruso each had 11 points in those first 20 minutes.

Vanguard was able to close the gap to seven points in the first two minutes of the second half, but the Mustangs responded by quickly pushing the margin to double-digits and never letting it fall under for the rest of the game.

Harper finished behind Oriol with 24 points. Both Kaleb Lowery and Caruso tallied double-doubles, with Lowery getting 15 points and 13 rebounds and Caruso collecting 15 points and 11 rebounds. Caruso also finished with a team-high six assists.

“It’s good to see when some of our players are struggling turn it around and have a good game,” Starr said.

The Master’s will travel to Arizona Thursday to take on the OUAZ Spirit, followed by a Saturday game against Arizona Christian. Both teams, projected to be GSAC championship contenders, lost on Saturday.

“They are good teams and they are going to be hungry,” said Coach Starr. “So we’ve got to be prepared. It doesn’t get any easier, that’s for sure.”