NCAA: Another career game for Matute as JRU defeats EAC, 90-79

MANILA, Philippines — Jose Rizal University remained unscathed in 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and the Bombers have Nate Matute to thank for it.

Matute set a new-career high — just a game after he eclipsed his previous record — and carried JRU to a 90-79 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College Thursday for an impressive 3-0 record.

Matute churned out 30 points — scoring more than half of it in the first half, as he blistered from downtown on 7-of-10 shooting.

“For the last three games Matute has been carrying us, I just hope he continues that and continue to improve more,” said head coach Vergel Meneses.

Matute, though, wasn’t on the floor when the Bombers erected their biggest lead of the game at 17 points with two minutes left to play.

But he did drain his final triple of the game with six minutes left to give JRU a safe distance from EAC, 72-62.

John Lopez, one of the squad’s veterans who chipped in 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists, split his charities to give JRU a safe 86-69 advantage.

It was the only time the Bombers managed to pull away from the Generals despite Matute’s explosion — as EAC remained in striking distance for most of the game.

Jan Jamon, the Generals’ trusty forward, finished with 20 points while Noube Happi and John Tayongtong pitched in 15 points apiece.

The Generals, now at 1-1, stood a chance when they pulled within three points at the end of third, 57-60, but that was before they allowed Matute to continue his explosion.