There’s something special about a repeat.

Especially during a historical season.

The Master’s University made it special and historical Monday evening, successfully defending its GSAC Tournament crown with an 88-73 victory over Westmont in Phoenix.

The Mustangs (29-2) became the first GSAC team to win consecutive men’s tournament titles since Azusa Pacific did it in 2008 and 2009.

The victory also made No. 1 TMU the GSAC’s automatic qualifier into the NAIA National Tournament that starts on March 14.

The 32-team field and bracket will be announced on Wednesday.

First things first, though.

Or, maybe second things first, as in a prolific second half where the Mustangs pulled away from the Warriors.

After creating some separation toward the end of the first stanza, the Mustangs went to halftime up 32-26. A layup by junior guard Delewis Johnson sparked a closing, 5-1 spurt that GSAC Player of the Year Lawrence Russell capped with a layup.

Russell spearheaded the Mustang attack over the first 20 minutes with 12 points. His four consecutive points with just under seven minutes left in the opening stanza put the Mustangs ahead for good, 23-21.

However, there were still 20 minutes of basketball left.

Coming out of the break, Keegan Scott, playing for an injured Hansel Atencia, and Brock Gardner drained consecutive three-pointers that gave the Mustangs their first double-digit lead of the evening, 38-28.

Gardner was far from done. The sophomore transfer scored 10 consecutive points in a 3:47 window and when he buried another trifecta with 14:28 left to play, the Mustangs had a 45-34 advantage.

Westmont counterpunched with a 12-4 run, closing within 49-46 at the 11:09 mark.

The Warriors were still down by just three points (55-52) less than two minutes later before Gardner took over again. He scored nine straight points, helping the Mustangs expand their lead to 64-54 with 7:08 remaining.

In a second half full of runs, now it was Westmont’s turn. The Warriors ripped off six straight points to make it a four-point game.

However, this TMU squad that has so much firepower would not let Westmont get any closer.

Tim Soares made sure of that. After Darryl McDowell-White drained a three-pointer to put the Mustangs up 67-60, the GSAC Defensive Player of the Year got offensive, scoring TMU’s next nine points.

When he threw down a dunk with 2:16 left, the Mustangs had a 76-66 lead. Five of Soares’ points came at the line, a place he was comfortable at during three games against Westmont this season, missing nary a shot in 22 attempts.

The Mustangs would finish off the game at the line, too, as a desperate Westmont squad fouled to get the ball back. With the exception of a Gardner dunk in the closing seconds, the Mustangs scored their final 10 points from the stripe.

Soares wound up 7-7 from the line and the club went 20-28.

Gardner, who scored a game-high 24 points, and Soares, who followed with 21 more, combined for 35 points in an explosive second stanza (56 points) for the Mustangs.

Gardner also took down a game-high 13 rebounds and dished out four assists.

Russell was very efficient, putting up another strong line with 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and four assists.

Now, it becomes a waiting game for the Mustangs to find out who they play and when at Wednesday’s national tournament announcement.