SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The John Brown mens basketball team (5-1) continued its hot shooting to open the 2015-16 season, but used a staunch second-half defensive effort, limiting Southwestern Adventist (Texas) to just 19 second-half points to secure a 96-58 victory on Thursday (Nov. 12) night inside Bill George Arena.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles close its season-opening six-game homestand with five wins in six opportunities, including shooting over 45 percent in each outing. Forcing 17 turnovers and recording four blocks and four steals, John Brown kept the Knights (0-7) to just 19 points in the second half on a 8-of-32 mark from the floor (25 percent) to secure the victory.
Entering the game eighth in the nation in total scoring offense (465 points), JBU battled through a difficult first half that saw the hosts carry just a nine-point lead into the intermission (48-39). After opening with a 9-4 lead, the Knights battled back to take a 13-11 lead following a 9-2 run. Senior Griffin Brady hit back-to-back triples for a 17-13 lead, but SAU managed to take a 22-21 lead with 9:08 remaining in the first half.
Highlighted by five ties and six lead changes, a pair of Marquis Waller free throws built a 29-25 lead, but Adventist rallied to tie the score at 29. Finally the Golden Eagles were able to make a run, jump-started by Matthew Ledfords first triple of the game and capped off by a triple from freshman Benjamin Smith and an old-fashioned three-point play from junior Ricky Roberts. Senior Luke Moyer returned to form, hitting consecutive triples in the final minutes to build a 10-point lead, 46-36, as junior Miguel Martinez finished a bucket down low for a nine-point halftime lead.
JBU continued its hot three-point shooting into the second half as Ledford knocked down JBUs first three attempts from behind the arc. At the 13:27 mark, freshman Josh Bowling hit his first triple of the season, marking eight consecutive triples attempted by the Golden Eagles, widening the gap to 19 points, 64-45. For the next 6:06 span, JBU kept the Knights to just one field goal and forced four SAU turnovers while piecing together a 19-2 run. Off the bench, sophomore Austin Fox buried back-to-back triples under two minutes remaining and Martinez finished off the scoring with a lay-in from Waller, sending the hosts to the 96-58 victory.
Junior Ricky Roberts led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor while Moyer was a perfect 3-of-3 from long range to finish with 12 points. Ledford scored all 12 points from behind the arc (4-of-6). Fox and Waller notched eight points apiece off the bench while Smith and Martinez added seven each, helping John Brown to a 38-6 advantage in the battle of the benches. The Golden Eagles turned 17 Knight turnovers into 22 points, but Adventist couldnt return the favor off JBUs 14 miscues, scoring just five points as a result.
The Golden Eagles won the battle of the boards, 42-26, and finished the night 31-of-58 (53.4 percent) from the floor. More impressively, JBU notched its best shooting effort on the season from behind the arc, knocking down 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) attempts. JBU continues to improve at the line, converting 20-of-23 (87 percent) chances at the charity stripe.
John Brown will now hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday (Nov. 14) when it travels to Walnut Ridge, Ark., to take on Williams Baptist (Ark.) in its second NAIA matchup of the season. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m.
