SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The nation's fifth-best defense continues to frustrate opponents and tonight was no different as the No. 10 John Brown men's basketball team held the Tigers to 34 percent from the field as the Golden Eagles took a 67-49 victory over Central Christian (Kan.) on Thursday night (Jan. 9) inside Bill George Arena.
John Brown (13-2, 4-1 Sooner Athletic) held its opponent below 60 points for the ninth time this season and rode double-digit scoring from sophomore Luke Harper (15), and juniors Rokas Grabliauskas (14) and Densier Carnes (13). Carnes just missed his seventh double-double of the season as he secured nine rebounds. Sophomore Ira Perrier shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor to contribute eight points and paced the squad with 10 rebounds, a career-high.
The hosts improved to 5-0 all-time versus the Tigers and stifled the CCCK leading scorers – limiting Isaiah Rivera to a 2-of-8 shooting night (10 points) and four turnovers. TJ Williams was also held in check, hitting just 2-of-5 (8 points), as the Tigers shot just 15-of-44 from the floor (34 percent) and only made 10-of-20 attempts from the charity stripe.
While the teams were still warming up the offenses, the Tigers (7-7, 0-5) took its only lead of the game, 11-10, with 13:10 left in the first half. Freshman Nemanja Obradovic hit layup on the next possession and the Golden Eagles would race to a 19-7 run, capped off a Kiree Hutchings triple that handed the hosts its first double-digit lead of the evening, 29-18.
The lead was whittled back to eight before a quick 4-0 JBU spurt to finish the half saw the Golden Eagles up 12 entering the intermission.
A pair of Grabliauskas treys comprised the bulk of the John Brown offense through the early goings of the second half, but the Tigers continued to eat away at the JBU lead until it was back again in single-digit territory, 43-34. Freshman Adam Asgeirsson hit a timely trey to keep the Golden Eagles up 14, 54-40, but it was finally a Harper trey with 2:35 remaining that ended Central Christian's hopes of a comeback. Armed with a 13-point lead, 61-48, Carnes hit a bucket in the post on the ensuing possession and JBU hit four of its five chances from the line down the stretch to seal the victory.
The Tigers' last field goal was at the 4:06 mark of the second half.
John Brown battled to a huge 43-25 rebounding advantage, including 13 offensive caroms that were converted into 15 second-chance points. Central Christian was limited to just four. On a night where the Golden Eagles weren't hitting the long ball as efficient as it usually does, the Golden Eagles made up for it by cashing in on 14-of-17 chances from the charity stripe.
Led by Obradovic's career-best two rejections, John Brown boasted a season-high six blocks in the victory.
Up Next »
John Brown returns to the hardwood on Saturday (Jan. 11) when it hits the road to take on Langston (Okla.) in a 3:45 p.m. scheduled tip-off.
