The third-seeded The Master's erased a 17-point second-half deficit and surged past fourth-seeded Benedictine Mesa, 77-74, to claim the GSAC Men’s Basketball Championship on Monday night at The MacArthur Center.
Trailing 40-27 at halftime and down 44-27 just over a minute into the second half, The Master’s responded with a composed and efficient final 20 minutes, outscoring Benedictine Mesa 50-34 after the break. The victory secures the conference’s automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship and marks the program’s first GSAC Tournament title since 2019.
Benedictine Mesa controlled much of the opening half, shooting 50 percent from the floor and knocking down six three-pointers. Damian Zivak (6'5''-G) hit three from beyond the arc before intermission, while Malik Payton (6'2''-G) and Khari Dunn (6'7''-F) combined to pressure the paint. The Redhawks built their largest lead of the night early in the second half, appearing firmly in control.
The momentum shifted behind guard Quincy Phillips (6'0''-G).
Phillips delivered a decisive second-half performance, finishing with a game-high 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers. He scored 26 of his 28 after halftime, consistently attacking off the dribble and converting key perimeter shots as the Mustangs methodically closed the gap.
Once The Master’s moved within single digits, the contest tightened into a possession-by-possession battle. There were four ties and 10 lead changes in the game, with most coming over the final 20 minutes as neither team could create sustained separation. A three-pointer by Phillips at the 10:23 mark gave The Master’s its first lead of the half, and from there the teams traded control repeatedly.
Tiago Soares added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds, helping The Master’s establish a steady presence on the glass. The Mustangs finished with a 37-33 rebounding edge and scored 40 points in the paint, emphasizing a more aggressive interior approach in the second half.
With just over four minutes remaining, Phillips connected on consecutive three-pointers to give the Mustangs a brief cushion. Benedictine Mesa answered behind Isaiah Howard and Dunn, trimming the margin to a single possession multiple times in the closing minute.
After Dunn converted a layup with 45 seconds left to make it 73-72, Phillips responded with a mid-range jumper on the ensuing possession. Forced to foul in the final seconds, the Redhawks sent Phillips to the line with under one second remaining. He converted both free throws to secure the 77-74 win.
Avery Jackson (6'3''-G) contributed 10 points for The Master’s, while Nate Boakye (6'3''-G) added eight points and seven rebounds. The Mustangs also capitalized on 16 points off turnovers compared to five for Benedictine Mesa, turning defensive stops into timely offense.
For the Redhawks, Isaiah Howard and Payton each scored 17 points, and Dunn added 16 in a balanced effort. Benedictine Mesa shot 49 percent overall and 45 percent from three-point range but was unable to slow The Master’s sustained push over the final stretch.
In the end, composure and execution defined the championship. Facing a double-digit deficit on its home floor, The Master’s steadily reclaimed control, secured its first GSAC Tournament crown since 2019, and earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage.

Final:
The Master's - Benedictine Mesa 77-74

Semis:
Arizona Christian - Benedictine Mesa 65-68
Hope International - The Master's 73-78

Courtesy of gsacsports.org

Player of the Year: Nick Hopkins (6'5''-G) of HIU
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Ese Onakpoma (6'4''-G) of ACU
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Matur Dhal (6'10''-C) of ERAU
Freshman of the Year: Aman Haynes (6'5''-F) of HIU
Newcomer of the Year: Isaiah Howard (6'2''-G) of BENUM
Coach of the Year: Bill Czech of HIU

All-GSAC First Team 2026

Bradley

Lee

Onakpoma

Blackwell III

Howard

Gifft

Haynes

Hopkins

Viuhkola

Jackson

Soares

First Team
Shaud Bradley (6'3''-G) of ACU
Jaylon Lee (6'9''-C) of ACU
Ese Onakpoma (6'4''-G) of ACU
Eric Blackwell III (6'1''-G-2001) of BENUM
Isaiah Howard (6'2''-G) of BENUM
Noah Gifft (6'3''-G) of ERAU
Aman Haynes (6'5''-F) of HIU
Nick Hopkins (6'5''-G) of HIU
Zeke Viuhkola (6'3''-F) of OUAZ
Avery Jackson (6'3''-G) of Master's
Tiago Soares (6'5''-F) of Master's