SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- John Brown (3-0) kept its perfect record intact, barely, and used a 12-point lead at the intermission to overcome a 26.3 percent shooting mark in the second half and received double-digit scoring outputs from three players to hold off Arlington Baptist (Texas), 65-63, this afternoon inside Bill George Arena.
Junior Griffin Brady poured in a career-high 17 points including a perfect 8-of-8 afternoon from the foul line. Senior Max Hopfgartner pieced together his third-consecutive double-double, scoring 17 points and securing 13 rebounds. Junior DJ Feitl also finished in double-figures by scoring 13 points, including knocking down a pair from behind the arc. Senior Samson Olayemi chipped in with a game-high four assists and collected two steals in the win.
Despite working through its worst shooting effort of the season (36.2 percent) and only scoring 17 field goals, five in the second half, the Golden Eagles went to work building ABCs foul count in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes, JBU shot 17-of-21 from the line (81.0 percent) to help cover its struggles from the floor.
Sporting just a one point lead at the 13:24 mark of the first half, the Golden Eagles received three-consecutive field goals from sophomore Zach English, Hopfgartner and Brady before a pair of Brady makes from the line broke open a nine-point lead, 20-11. With the Patriots closing in towards the end of the first half, Feitl and freshman Matthew Ledford teamed up for three-straight triples, sending the hosts to an 11-point advantage, 29-18. The Golden Eagle defense held Arlington Baptist to just two field goals over the final 4:46, vaulting JBU to a 37-25 halftime lead.
The second half was a different story, however, as ABC used seven John Brown turnovers over a 9:21 span to knot the score at 45 apiece by shooting 7-of-16 to open the half. The Patriots would never seize control of the game, however, as a pair of free throws from Hopfgartner and Brady broke consecutive ties before Feitl fed Hopfgartner for the Golden Eagles third field goal of the half. The bucket broke a third tie and gave the hosts a narrow two-point lead, 51-49.
The gap would never grow larger than three as the squads battled down to one minute left in the contest. ABCs Josh Greens basket knotted the score at 60, but another visitor foul sent Hopfgartner to the line for a pair. After sinking both, Hopfgartner came up huge on the ensuing possession, rejecting Willie Claybornes layup attempt into the stands. Olayemi then registered a steal on the inbounds, allowing Feitl to absorb another Patriot foul, sending him to the line.
Feitl knocked down both, but Arlington Baptist had one more miracle left as Jamie Briceno dropped a three-point bomb with nine seconds left to pull ABC back to 64-63. Feitl was immediately fouled, but could only split the trip to the line, giving the Patriots one last chance to tie or steal a victory.
Fortunately for John Brown, Arlington Baptists Quinton Moore was charged with an offensive foul on a moving screen on the final possession, sending the Golden Eagles to a 3-0 record with a 65-63 win.
Green had a game-high 22 points for the Patriots while Clayborne came off the bench to contribute 19 in the loss. Green tallied a team-best three triples on six chances which was met by Lefords trio of three-pointers and nine points.
John Brown will rest until Tuesday (Nov. 11) when it hosts Ozark Christian (Mo.) at 7 p.m. at Bill George Arena.
