SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Four Golden Eagle players finished in double-digit scoring and the No. 14 John Brown (6-0) bench contributed 55 points in the 108-66 victory over Southwestern Adventist (Texas) tonight inside Bill George Arena.
Junior Max Hopfgartner and senior Gilbert Gyamfi each poured in a team-high 15 points. The story of the game, however, was the strong play of the JBU reserves, mainly the newcomers. Freshman Zach English posted a career-high 14 points, on a 4-of-7 effort from behind the arc, and dished out four helpers while forcing a pair of steals. Freshman Austin Freet easily set a career high with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Gyamfi pulled down a game-high seven boards while freshman Quinton Smith added six of his own. Freet and freshman Kileab Ammons each collected three caroms on the offensive glass, setting a game-high.
The Knights (0-4) began the game cold, but scored three consecutive times, taking an early 7-4 lead. A pair of Gyamfi free throws and English's first trey of the game evaporated the deficit, handing John Brown the 9-7 lead it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game. The triple vaulted John Brown to an 11-4 run over the next 1:56 that was capped by back-to-back Joseph triples for a 17-11 advantage.
The first half was littered with Golden Eagle triples as the hosts went 9-of-18 from long range in the first 20 minutes. Boasting a 25-17 lead, senior Kurtis Phillips' triple launched a 24-9 run over the next 7:30 that featured six treys. Gyamfi and Phillips each had a pair while Ammons and English also added a three-pointer. Up by 23, John Brown held SAU from a successful field goal for the final 1:58 as an Ammons free throw and a Jared Johnson bucket closed the half at 52-26 score. Seven different Golden Eagles converted from downtown in the first half.
The second half began with a hot-shooting Southwestern Adventist team as the Knight began the first 5:50 of the second half on a 16-12 run that was powered by 6-of-9 shooting from the field. The rally featured a trio of three-pointers, two of which were knocked down by Kevin Squarzon, who finished the game with an evening-high 26 points. John Brown responded with a 13-5 run of its own over the next 3:05. Gyamfi hit three of eight Golden Eagle free throws over that stretch, returning the score to an impressive 77-47.
English's fourth and final triple at the 9:19 mark handed JBU its largest lead of the game to that point, 82-51. Freshman Daniel Lauer's first collegiate bucket capped off a small 12-9 host advantage over 3:13, giving JBU a 94-63 advantage. In the final 2:40 with freshmen receiving significant playing time, John Brown finished the night on a 9-0 run that was fueled by nine free throws. Freshmen Arty Pavlov and Travis Olson converted six and two attempts, respectively, while Lauer completed his six-point night with a final make from the charity stripe.
It was easily the best three-point shooting night of the season for JBU, who shot 13-of-27 (48.1 percent) from long range. Seven different players poured in at least a triple. John Brown heavily out-rebounded the Knights, 46-20, 11 of which came on the offensive glass, contributing to 15 Golden Eagle second-chance points. The John Brown big men dominated the paint, out-scoring the visitors 38-22 around the basket.
It was a banner night for the Golden Eagle newcomers as Ammons, English, Freet, Lauer, Olson and Pavlov each set career highs.
John Brown will return to the hardwood on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Walnut Ridge, Ark., in a matchup with Williams Baptist (Ark.) at 4:00 p.m.
