SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Senior Gilbert Gyamfi scored a game-high 24 points and a 22-9 second-half surge by No. 14 John Brown (10-0, 1-0 SAC), including a 10-0 run over 50 seconds, secured a 72-70 win over St. Gregory's (Okla.) tonight at Bill George Arena in a battle of undefeated squads.
Although the Golden Eagles had won 14 of the previous 16 matchups with the Cavaliers (8-1, 0-1 SAC), the two teams entered the evening a combined 17-0 this season and accounted for two of the remaining nine unbeaten squads in the nation. SGU also boasted transfer Marty Wilkerson who had averaged 24.125 points per game this season, good enough for third-best in the country.
For the fifth time this season, Gyamfi broke the 20-point barrier, finishing 8-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Gyamfi easily pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds as well, securing his first double-double of the season. Joining him in the over-20 scoring category was sophomore Kofi Josephs, who utilized a 6-of-17 effort from the field, three of which were triples, and went 7-of-12 from the charity stripe to finish with 22 and seven rebounds. Junior Max Hopfgartner also landed in double-figures, notching 11 points, two rebounds and a pair of helpers.
The first half featured a pair of runs that saw John Brown lead by as many as six before the Cavaliers regained control of the game and led by eight, entering the half with a seven-point lead.
Wilkerson opened the scoring on SGU's first possession, draining an emphatic triple from the right arc. The Golden Eagles responded quickly, however, as Josephs and Gyamfi delivered back-to-back treys for a 6-3 lead that was extended by another pair of points when Kurtis Phillips converted both free throws after drawing a foul down low. Hopfgartner continued the hosts' five-point advantage, 13-8, at the 14:58 mark but SGU retaliated with a 9-4 run, forcing the game's second deadlock at 17 apiece. Gyamfi scored five-straight points, returning JBU's advantage and with 7:03 remaining in the first half, a pair of Josephs conversions at the free throw line pushed the hosts' lead to a game-high six points, 28-22.
The Golden Eagle advantage would begin to fade quickly, however, as the visitors were paced by 10 T.J. Thornton points down the stretch which fueled a 22-9 run to end the half in favor of St. Gregory's, 44-37. The Cavaliers knocked down 10-of-14 shots over the final minutes and carried a commanding seven-point lead into the break.
The visitors continued its scoring spurt into the second stanza as a Josephs triple was the only answer to nine SGU points in the first 3:42 of the half. Gyamfi and Josephs connected on consecutive buckets, forcing a 59-55 score, but Wilkerson widened the lead back to seven after a steal and a quick basket. Facing a nine-point deficit with 7:15 remaining in the game, Phillips hit a timely triple at the top of the key and then dished a great pass the length of the court to Jared Johnson to pull within four. Fueling the Golden Eagle comeback effort was an SGU turnover on the resulting inbounds, which allowed Hopfgartner a bucket down low as he drew a foul in the process.
On the ensuing sub, the Cavaliers' Brock Vorwald was assessed a technical foul which placed Josephs at the line for a pair, which he hit. Hopfgartner then completed his old-fashioned three-point play, handing the Golden Eagles its first lead of the game in nearly 19 minutes of play. Hopfgartner's final make at the charity stripe cemented JBU's 10-0 run over a mere 50 seconds.
While missing three-consecutive shots, the visitors responded with a 6-0 run of its own, appearing to have withstood the final Golden Eagle push, taking a 70-65 lead with 4:45 left in the contest. Vorwald's bucket in the paint would prove to be the last points for SGU as Gyamfi's field goal, coupled with a pair of Josephs free throws, pulled the hosts within a lone point, 70-69. Josephs had a chance to ice the game with another pair of charity stripe attempts but missed both. He redeemed himself, however, by stealing the ball from Wilkerson and allowed Johnson to clean up his missed bucket for a 71-70 lead with 66 seconds left on the clock.
Hopfgartner managed another steal on the ensuing possession, allowing the Golden Eagles to eat a full 35 seconds off the clock, but an errant Phillips triple allowed the Cavaliers a final opportunity with 14 seconds remaining. Wilkerson missed the potential game-winning shot in the lane, but SGU had another chance when Jason Vierra nabbed the ball after Gyamfi's rebound. Gyamfi timed his jump perfectly, rejecting Vierra's bid for the victory. After collecting the rebound and drawing a foul, Josephs went 1-of-2 at the line with 2.9 seconds on the clock.
With little time left for a desperation shot, Phillips intercepted the Vorwald inbound, securing the come-from-behind win and extending the John Brown perfect season another game.
The Cavaliers finished the night 30-of-60 from the field (50.0 percent) while JBU managed a 41.8 percent shooting clip (23-of-55). Both teams scored 42 points in the paint and SGU turned 15 John Brown errors into 15 points while the Golden Eagles converted 14 St. Gregory's miscues into 17 points.
Gyamfi led the way with three offensive rebounds, powering John Brown's nine offensive caroms into 14 second-chance points. The hosts held a 36-33 rebounding advantage and a 9-5 margin in the frontcourt. Vorwald's 11 points led SGU to a 14-7 advantage in points from reserves while Wilkerson scored the bulk of the Cavaliers' 12 fast break points.
John Brown finished 20-of-30 from the stripe (66.7 percent). SGU attempted only 10 all night, knocking down four.
Wilkerson ended the evening with a team-high 22 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field for St. Gregory's while Thornton used a 3-of-6 effort from three to land 21 points. Wilkerson managed a team-high six rebounds and seven assists while Richard Shields also contributed six rebounds in the losing effort.
The Golden Eagles now await Wayland Baptist (Texas) to make its way to Siloam Springs on Thursday (Dec. 5). Game time is slated for 8:00 p.m.
