SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Junior Josh Bowling scored 27 of his career-high 35 points in the second half, but a narrow lead in the final minute wouldn't hold, as defending national champions Texas Wesleyan hit four at the line to churn out a narrow 79-76 decision over the John Brown University men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17) inside Bill George Arena.
Bowling was nearly unstoppable in the second half, shooting 8-of-12, including a 4-of-7 mark from behind the arc. Down four, 75-71, Bowling converted on back-to-back field goals, the latter a triple that produced a 76-75 lead with 29 seconds left. After a foul put Branden Jenkins on the line for two that fell, John Brown (15-11, 9-7 Sooner Athletic) turned the ball over and was forced to foul again.
This time, Ryan Harris hit two at the line for Wesleyan (20-8, 13-5) to push its lead to 79-76. A contested Bowling triple attempt at the buzzer wouldn't fall, despite the emotional lift the rowdy BGA crowd hopes the give the attempt that would have tied the game.
What You Need to Know
» Junior Josh Bowling scored 27 of his career-best 35 points in the second half, as he hit 12-of-20 attempts from the field.
» JBU held a lead with 29 seconds left, but a turnover and a missed triple foiled the Golden Eagle upset bid.
» Branden Jenkins (22), Juwan Jones (21) and Ryan Harris (19) combined for 62 points and 78 percent of Wesleyan's offense.
» There were seven ties and six lead changes in the second half alone. |
Leading by as many as seven in the second half, the Rams saw junior Jake Caudle's triple fall with 9:06 left to tie the game at 56, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wesleyan responded by holding the lead until 30 seconds left in the game.
The three-headed TWU scoring monster struck for 62 points as Branden Jenkins (22), Juwan Jones (21) and Ryan Harris (19) accounted for 78 percent of the visitors' offense. All three essentially hit their respective averages as the Rams shot 62.9 percent in the second half after a more pedestrian 41.9 percent effort in the first half.
JBU shot just 28.6 percent in the first half (8-of-28), but rebounded in the second stanza with a much better 51.6 percent conversion rate (16-of-31) including an 8-of-19 mark from behind the arc.
Caudle backed up Bowling's career night with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting and four triples.
The Golden Eagles close out the regular season with a pair of road games next week, including a stop in Goodwell, Okla. on Thursday (Feb. 22) to take on Oklahoma Panhandle State before continuing on to West Texas to face Wayland Baptist (Texas) next Saturday.
