BUMBLING INTO THE PLAYOFFS PAIRINGS RELEASED NEXT WEEK.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

NEWHALL - A surprising two-point men's basketball loss to UC San Diego on Friday has The Master's College dragging its feet into the NAIA basketball playoffs.

The previous 25 games had seen the Mustangs (26-5) lose only to No. 1 Life University (twice).

Tournament pairings are released Wednesday. The Master's, now ranked ninth, started the week at No. 7. The first round of the NAIA playoffs begins on March 14 in Tulsa, Okla.

``Well, we've got some work to do,'' coach Bill Oates said. ``I really don't think we were looking past (UC San Diego) to the playoffs. For whatever reason, we just didn't shoot well (34 percent) and didn't play well. In fairness to them, they played a great game. It was very humbling - basketball has a way of doing that.''

A victory would have tied the school regular-season record.

--Penberthy at an even 600: Senior All-American guard Joey Penberthy finished the regular season with 600 points, an average of 20.0 per game. His 1,810 career points put him eighth on the school's all-time list behind James Mosley (seventh, 1,811 points, 1992-96) and Jason Webster (sixth, 1,847, 1988-92).

Penberthy's free-throw percentage of 89.0 is fourth in the NAIA this year. His lifetime percentage of 81.5 trails only brother Mike's 87.8.

--Joclin jockeys for position: Joclin Julmist finished with a rebounding average of 14.5 per game, 17.4 over the last 12 games. He's the top rebounder in the NAIA this season. His career total of 1,530 is third all-time at the school behind Dennis Lord (second, 1,626 rebounds, 1968-72) and Mike Basarich (first, 1,634, 1967-70).

--Women in playoffs: The Mustangs (16-14) hosted Christian Heritage College Wednesday in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association regional playoffs. The time and site of the second round has yet to be determined; the NCCAA National Tournament starts Thursday and ends Saturday in Oakland City, Ind.

Freshman Lesley DuBois is averaging 18.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. Karen Gormley is averaging 5.4 assists.

--Call to arms: The Master's baseball team lost some key hitters from last season, but the Mustangs have found a remedy: good pitching. Mike Ploharz is 4-0 and Josh Higgins is 4-1, boosting the Mustangs to an 11-3 start, one of their best in school history. They've won seven of eight and play a home doubleheader at noon Saturday against California College.

--Tee time: The Master's introduced its first men's golf team this year. The squad lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills by 20 strokes in its first match of the season on Feb. 11.