SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Oklahoma Panhandle State shot over 50 percent in each half and used a 12-3 run late in the contest to hand the No. 21 John Brown University men's basketball team an 85-70 setback inside Bill George Arena on Saturday (Feb. 9) afternoon.
OPSU's win clinched the season sweep of the Golden Eagles (18-8, 12-6 Sooner Athletic) and snapped the Golden Eagles' four-game winning streak in Siloam Springs.
Breiman Alexander, the nation's second-leading scorer, did it all for the Aggies, playing all 40 minutes and scoring 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field. He hit six triples and didn't attempt a free throw.
In fact, the visitors basically played all five players for the entirety of the contest – so much so that JBU enjoyed a 17-1 advantage in points off the bench. But 21 Baris Ulker points and 19 from Alan Hodge, 14 in the second half, was too much as John Brown managed just a 31 percent shooting effort in the second half.
The Golden Eagles actually carried the lead into the break, 40-38, but the hosts failed to continue the momentum behind the arc – hitting just 4-of-20 in the final 20 minutes, but finishing the half 7-of-15 inside the arc.
Senior Jake Caudle did everything he could to carry the Golden Eagles as leading scorer, senior Josh Bowling, was unavailable for the contest.
Caudle was one point shy of tying a career-high 38 points, finishing with 37, on 11-of-23 shooting. He converted 10-of-12 from the line. Junior Desmond Kennedy came off the bench to contribute 15 points.
A pair of Caudle free throws brought the lead back to single digits with 3:46 left in the game, but seven empty possessions down the stretch allowed the Aggies to escape with the 15-point cushion.
The loss sends John Brown into a tie with Oklahoma City for second place in the league standings and gives Wayland Baptist (Texas) a now healthy 2.5 game lead with just four games remaining in the regular season.
Still with a regular season title within reach, the Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday (Feb. 14) in Oklahoma City to take on Mid-America Christian. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
