SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Highlighted by 14 ties and nine lead changes, Southwestern A.G. (Texas) took a narrow 57-54 lead just past the midway point of the second half and never relinquished the lead as the John Brown University men's basketball team absorbed a 77-71 loss on Thursday night (Feb. 15) inside Bill George Arena.
With 8:18 remaining in the contest, SAGU's Mitchel Remington converted a pair at the line at the 8:18 mark to hand the Lions (19-8, 11-6 Sooner Athletic) a 55-54 lead. A turnover that was converted into a fast-break bucket by Darney Sims on the ensuing possession pushed the visitor lead to three, as John Brown (15-11, 9-8) was unable to pull ahead for the remainder of the contest.
What You Need to Know
» For the second-straight game, the Golden Eagles secured over 40 rebounds.
» Junior Josh Bowling hit six triples, a career high, and lead JBU with a game-high 23 points.
» SAGU's Jalen Petillo entered the game averaging under 8 points per game and led the Lions with season-high 22 points in the win.
» In a matchup of two evenly-matched teams, the Golden Eagles committed 21 turnovers, compared to SAGU's 11. |
The Golden Eagles committed 11 of its 21 turnovers in the second half, and was only able to convert 3-of-10 behind the arc in the final 20 minutes of play. Junior Josh Bowling, who scored a game-high 23 points, scored nine in the second half, as did freshman Densier Carnes, but Bowling's career-best six triples couldn't get the hosts in the lead over the final 8:18 of the game.
Sophomore Mateo Habazin split a pair at the line with 1:52 left in the contest to pull John Brown within one, but SAGU finished the game on an 11-6 run as JBU was without a field goal over the final 2:29 of the game.
Every player who played for the Lions scored as the visitors' bench out-scored the Golden Eagle reserves, 31-5.
Carnes finished with 14 points after hitting 6-of-7 from the line. Junior Jake Caudle contributed 13 points on an off shooting night, marking just the second time this season JBU's leading scorer didn't hit at least one triple.
Joshua Swearengin came off the bench to compliment Petillo's 22 points with 18 of his own. Petillo finished his third double-double of the season with 12 boards, despite John Brown holding the rebounding advantage, 40-37.
The Golden Eagles finish the week with an afternoon matchup with Texas Wesleyan on Saturday (Feb. 17) at 3 p.m. JBU will honor lone graduating senior, Joshua Rhodius, in a pregame ceremony.
