SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Despite falling into a quick 11-0 hole to begin the game, the No. 21 John Brown University men's basketball team battled back to finally take a three-point lead with just under five to play, but Anthony Black's step-back triple with 20 seconds left sealed the contest as Mid-America Christian (Okla.) escaped Bill George Arena with a 71-66 decision on Saturday (Jan. 12) afternoon.
Now winners of six in their last 10 visits to Siloam Springs since 2010, MACU (10-6, 3-5 Sooner Athletic) bumps John Brown to fourth place in the SAC race, while the Evangels continue to work their way back into the mix.
John Brown (12-5, 6-3) again could not find any rhythm behind the arc, finishing 5-of-21 (24 percent), but did shoot 17-of-24 inside the arc (71 percent) to overcome what was once a 15-point Evangel lead just before halftime.
Jake Caudle hit 4-of-5 from the field and 6-of-6 from the stripe to power the JBU comeback effort that had an 18-point swing. Sophomore Densier Carnes' thunderous dunk on the fast break with 4:42 remaining seemed to place all the momentum in favor of the hosts, but four points from Dominick Ford followed up by an and-one from Anthony Black returned the lead back to MACU with 72 seconds left.
With the shot clock expiring, another JBU triple went awry, and Black responded on the other end with a 22-foot step-back triple that sealed the Golden Eagle fate with 20 seconds left.
Black finished tied for the game-high with 19 points, and was 7-of-8 from the foul line. Zach Sawyer finished the game with a season-high 12 points, and Justin Bogle added 11 tallies. Ford narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Caudle poured in 19 points while junior Brenton Toussaint finished 5-of-6 from the field to contribute 13 points and six boards. Senior Josh Bowling added 10 points and a team-leading seven rebounds as the hosts narrowly lost the battle on the glass, 30-26.
Ten offensive rebounds controlled by MACU converted into 14 points. JBU had only four points on four offensive caroms.
John Brown finished 19-of-25 from the charity stripe, where the difference in the contest could have been made up. The hosts, after shooting just 9-of-21 in the first half, finished the contest at 47 percent (21-of-45), just slightly better than the Evangels.
The Golden Eagles will head out west next week to face Oklahoma Panhandle State and No. 24 Wayland Baptist. JBU will matchup with OPSU on Thursday (Jan. 17) before making its longest conference trek of the season to Plainview, for a matinee bout with the Pioneers on Saturday.
