SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- An offensively sluggish start placed the Golden Eagles in an early 10-point hole, but a seven triples and a 38 percent shooting mark in the second half propelled the No. 10 John Brown University men's basketball team back into the win column with a 70-55 win over Science & Arts (Okla.) on Thursday night (Jan. 2) inside Bill George Arena.
The Golden Eagles (12-1, 3-0 Sooner Athletic) committed just two turnovers in the second half and, after USAO had wandered into foul trouble very early in the half, junior Rokas Grabliauskas' 8-of-11 effort from the line powered JBU's 8-of-12 mark down the stretch that kept the Drovers at bay.
The hosts started the contest just 3-of-16 from the field, a quite unusual mark for a team that has shot over 40 percent 10 times in 11 contests this season, but a strong defensive effort and a late first-half surge powered by five Kiree Hutchings points allowed the Golden Eagles to turn an 18-8 deficit midway through the stanza into a one-point game at the bathroom break via a 16-7 run.
JBU cleaned up the ball control and rode five triples from sophomore Luke Harper in the second half to blow open the final tie, 38-all, into a game-best 15-point margin to end the contest. While the visitors shot 46 percent in the second half, it hit just 1-of-9 behind the arc and turned the ball over nine times. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, shot just 39 percent, but converted 7-of-14 from long range and finished the half 19-of-27 from the charity stripe to seal the win and improve to 9-0 inside Bill George Arena.
Harper finished the contest with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field, all from behind the arc. He also added five boards and a pair of steals. Grabliauskas netted eight of his 14 from the line, and Hutchings came off the bench to provide 11 in his sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
The hosts enjoyed a 45-36 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds. The Drovers controlled the paint, 42-30, but the Golden Eagles countered by hitting 11-of-29 from behind the arc.
Science & Arts (6-7, 1-3) had three double-digit scoring efforts, paced by Stephon Hall's 13 points. Trenton Sandifer and Dylan Causwell each contributed 11, and Causwell added a team-best seven boards in the loss.
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John Brown returns to the hardwood in a pivotal matchup with undefeated No. 3 Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Saturday. The tilt inside the Gaulke Activity Center is slated for 3:45 p.m.
