SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Max Hopfgartner scored a game-high 26 points and, after suffering from early foul trouble, Kofi Josephs chipped in 16 second-half points, leading John Brown (20-9, 10-9 SAC) to a 56-point second-half outburst and an 87-73 win over Northwood (Texas) tonight at Bill George Arena.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles stay in contention for an opening-round bye at the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament, set to begin on March 5 in Shawnee, Okla. Currently, JBU sits all alone in sixth place with one game remaining on the slate and is one game behind Mid-America Christian (Okla.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas) for the fifth seed and final spot assured of missing the tournament play-in games.
Hopfgartner's 26 points proved to be his best outing since netting 28 points in a win over Dallas Christian (Texas) on Nov. 30 and marked his highest mark since coming off the bench in the last five games. Josephs overcame first-half foul trouble and left his mark on the game by scoring all 16 of his points in the second half, finishing 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-9 from behind the arc. Gilbert Gyamfi converted 7-of-9 chances from the line to score 15 points while Zach English poured in 10 off the bench, marking the first time he has reached double figures since Jan. 4.
The Golden Eagles struggled through the first half and into the opening minutes of the second half and faced a nine-point deficit, 53-44, with 14:21 remaining in the game. Northwood's triple to build its nine-point lead sparked JBU to an 11-2 run over the next 1:50, started by English's only triple of the game from the right arc. Joseph's second three-pointer of the half from the right arc brought the margin to three and quickly fell to one after Gyamfi buried a drive to bucket. Northwood's Everrett Pleasant, who finished with a team-best 17 points, responded with a layup of his own, but Josephs drained a replica of his previous three-pointer, forcing the game's ninth tie (55-55) at the 12:15 mark.
Hopfgartner scored a pair of layups in transition, allowing JBU to take a three-point lead, 61-58. Kurtis Phillips' trey at 8:54 ballooned the lead to four, 64-60, for a moment, until the Knights retaliated by scoring five of the next six points, forcing the contest's 11th deadlock, 65-65. The narrow margin would be short-lived, however, as English buried a pair of free throws, launching the Golden Eagles on an 18-2 run over the next 5:06. Gyamfi scored five consecutive points over the span while Josephs and Hopfgartner each drilled a triple. Quinton Smith drained a pair of chances at the line before Phillips split a pair of his own, vaulting the hosts to an 83-67 lead with 1:36 remaining. Northwood finished the final 7:27 just 2-of-10 from the field while JBU responded with a 6-of-10 mark, including a pair of triples.
Phillips volleyed a beautiful pass into the post where Jared Johnson scored his first bucket of the game, forcing the match's fifth tie at 13-13. JBU would take a 20-15 lead, courtesy of three-straight Hopfgartner points, but Northwood responded with a 6-1 rally that grew into a 17-10 Knight advantage to close out the half, forcing the hosts into a seven-point hole, 38-31, after entering the intermission missing six of its final nine shots.
John Brown finished 29-of-58 overall (50 percent) and 9-of-26 from long distance (34.6 percent). JBU is now 9-2 this season when shooting better than 50 percent. NU converted 25-of-70 from the floor (35.7 percent), including a 4-of-18 mark from behind the arc (22.2 percent). Twenty-six Golden Eagles turnovers and 15 offensive rebounds allowed Northwood to take 12 more shots than John Brown, but Phillips' nine rebounds, and 10 points, powered the hosts to a 45-39 rebounding advantage. While both teams enjoyed 36 points from their respective benches, John Brown secured a narrow advantage in points in the paint, 52-45.
Four players finished with five assists apiece for JBU. Gyamfi, Josephs, Phillips and Kileab Ammons each recorded a quintet of helpers, sending John Brown to 21 assists on 29 field goals.
Northwood (7-17, 6-13 SAC) was led by Pleasant's 17 points while Gary Jones notched the double-double after pouring in 14 points and securing 10 rebounds. Chace Franklin scored 12 points off the Knight bench in the loss.
John Brown welcomes No. 5 Southwestern A.G. (Texas) to Bill George Arena on Saturday (March 1) afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and will mark the close to the 2013-14 regular season.
