SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The John Brown mens basketball team (5-6, 0-2 SAC) committed 10 first-half turnovers and allowed No. 24 Southwestern A.G. (Texas) nine offensive rebounds in the first stanza, allowing the Lions to build a 40-29 lead at the half and coast to an 81-69 win on Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon inside Bill George Arena.
Ironically, in a second half that John Brown tightened up its play and secured 13 offensive rebounds of its own and committed just five turnovers, but the shooting gave way as JBU notched a 30.3 percent (10-of-33) mark from the field.
Junior Ricky Roberts hit an acrobatic layup and senior Luke Moyer knocked down a pair from the line, keeping the hosts within a 14-13 score. However, with a 26-20 lead in hand after Moyers first triple of the game, the Lions began a 14-9 run to end the first half, sending the hosts to a difficult 40-29 deficit with just 20 minutes left to play.
The lead for SAGU would widen to a game-high 22 late in the second half.
Roberts led all Golden Eagles with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. Moyer hit 6-of-6 from the line to chip in 11 points while freshman Jake Caudle poured in a career-best 11 points in his first-career start. Junior Nate Anderson added eight points, a pair of blocks and a game-high 10 rebounds in the loss.
Keyunta Watkins hit 5-of-9 from long distance to pace the Lions (8-2, 2-0 SAC) with 24 points while Emmanuel Adoyi and Rishaad Alexander each chipped in with 13. Tyler Pate came off the bench to contribute 14 points in the victory. Adoyi finished the double-double with 10 boards and Alexander and Jason Gentry each dished out a game-best four assists.
The Golden Eagles have now lost five straight and slip to eighth place in conference play. SAGU remains undefeated in the Sooner Athletic and is tied with No. 12 Wayland Baptist (Texas) atop the league standings.
JBU will return to action on Friday (Dec. 11) when it welcomes Ecclesia (Ark.) to Bill George Arena. Game time is slated for 8 p.m.
