SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Six Golden Eagles finished tonight's contest in double-figures and No. 7 John Brown (11-0) used a 63-38 advantage in the paint to dispatch Ecclesia (Ark.) tonight for the second time this season, establishing a new program record with its 11th-consecutive victory to start the season.
Of the six players that finished over 10 points apiece, a pair of personal records fell in addition to tying a third. Sophomore Kofi Josephs finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field that featured a trio of three-pointers to accompany three rebounds and four assists. Freshman Zach English chipped in with a career-high 15 points off the bench, converting 8-of-9 chances from the free throw line while senior Gilbert Gyamfi also collected 15 points, knocking down a pair of triples en route to a 6-of-8 effort from the field.
Senior Kurtis Phillips poured in 13 points, notching a 2-of-3 effort from long range, while dishing out a game-high seven assists. Freshman Quinton Smith made his first career start and scored 13 points while collecting five rebounds. Sophomore Jared Johnson finished with a season-high 12 points, matching his career-high mark, in addition to blocking two shots and securing five boards.
Senior Max Hopfgartner knocked down a triple to begin the game, sending the Golden Eagles on an 11-0 run that featured field goals from Smith, Gyamfi, Johnson and another from Hopfgartner over the first 2:40. The Royals responded with a 10-2 run of its own, fueled by three consecutive missed shots by JBU. After the visitors pulled within a basket at 17-15, Phillips knocked down his first triple of the game at the 11:03 mark, returning the slim lead back to five. Ecclesia converted three of its next four shots from the floor, sparked by three Golden Eagle turnovers, to tie the match at 20.
After a second deadlock at 22 apiece, JBU pulled away for good, courtesy of a 16-6 rally over 3:59 that featured eight-straight points from Josephs, five of which occurred at the charity stripe. The hosts continued its dominance down low, posting another 10-point run over 3:17 that included four points down low from Johnson, another from Smith and a Gyamfi triple. Gyamfi's bucket in the paint with six seconds left allowed the Golden Eagles to venture in the break with a 19-point advantage, 50-31.
Through the first quarter of the second half, the John Brown lead hovered around the 20-point margin until English's shot in the lane at the 14:55 mark pushed the Ecclesia deficit to a game-high 24 points, 67-43, which would later be equaled on two occasions. Leading 77-58, the Royals made an 11-5 mid-half run to pull within 13. The rally was quickly answered by a Gyamfi three from the left arc that was followed by a Josephs bucket in the lane, a result of another Royal miscue.
Johnson, Gyamfi and Phillips teamed up for three-straight field goals under the basket, fueled by a pair of Johnson steals, allowing the Golden Eagles to regain a 22-point advantage, 93-71. Smith scored his final points of the evening at the 2:21 mark on the fast break and Ecclesia nabbed a pair of free throws a field goal with moment remaining to close the game at 97-75. The Royals missed five of its final six chances from the field.
Five players scored at least a triple in tonight's effort as the Golden Eagles shot its highest mark from long range on the season, converting 9-of-15 opportunities from beyond the arc (60.0 percent). Josephs heaved up a trio of triples while Gyamfi and Phillips each collected a pair. English and Hopfgartner also chipped in with a three-pointer. Ecclesia also shot well from three-point range, finishing with a 55.6 percent night on 10-of-18 shooting.
In addition to scoring down low, JBU's big men fought hard on the glass, out-rebounding the Royals by a 36-22 margin as Gyamfi, Smith, Phillips, Hopfgartner and Johnson each pulled down five caroms. Eleven offensive rebounds were converted into 18 second chance Golden Eagle points.
Joshua English netted a team-high 15 points for Ecclesia (3-9) while Austin Burroughs also added 15. Kristopher Riggs collected a team-high seven boards in the losing effort.
The Golden Eagles will now carry its unblemished record into Christmas break where it will enjoy a 22-day hiatus until it returns to action on Jan. 2, welcoming Science & Arts (Okla.) to Bill George Arena for an 8:00 p.m. showdown.
