SILOAM SPRINGS -- After six minutes of looking some rhythm, and a pair of missed shots, junior Luke Harper settled right back into navigating the Golden Eagle offense – posting a game-high 27 points – and leading the No. 22 John Brown University men's basketball team to its first win of the season, a 91-63 drubbing of visiting Langston (Okla.) on Monday (Jan. 18) evening inside Bill George Arena.
It took just six minutes for the returning All-American to register his first points of the 2020-21 season, and Harper piled on 16 more before the intermission. In the second half, the Plano, Texas native added 11 more before taking an early rest along with the rest of the Golden Eagle (1-3, 1-3 Sooner Athletic) starters.
After the teams played neck-and-neck for the first 10 minute of action, senior Densier Carnes' triple jump-started a John Brown run, followed by a Harper floater in the lane and an old-fashioned three-point play, which turned a narrow four-point Golden Eagle lead into a 45-28 mountain at the break. Harper scored 12 points over the 26-12 JBU run, while Carnes added nine. Six turnovers during the final 10:49 of the stanza kept the Lions (0-2, 0-2) out of reach for the remainder of the contest.
The lead hovered around 20 points in the second half until Carnes and freshman Noah Taylor, of the and-one variety, scored three points each – setting up a triple from redshirt freshman Sterling Morphis. The trey capped off a 15-3 run that featured six different scorers, bolstering a game-high 34-point lead, 89-55, with 2:50 left in the night.
Four other Golden Eagles besides Harper contributed double-digit scoring performances, which allowed the hosts to hold the lead for over 33 minutes (84 percent) of the matchup. While Harper finished 10-of-21 from the field, Carnes added 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Off the bench, freshman Noah Taylor provided another 12 points off the bench and sophomore James Beckom had himself an outing with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
In his best outing yet, senior Brenton Toussaint flashed moments of his immovable post play from two seasons ago and contributed 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Junior Ira Perrier added seven rebounds and seven assists in the win.
The JBU offense came to life tonight, setting season bests in points (91), field goals (36) and shooting efficiency (48.6 percent).
TaMarcus Butler's 21 points on four triples and Jamal Clifton's 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting accounted for much of the Langston scoring effort. The Lions played only seven players, and committed 19 turnovers, while John Brown tallied just five miscues – a season-best mark. The hosts converted the turnover discrepancy into a 22-6 scoring advantage.
Now with its first win sealed, the Golden Eagles travel for three consecutive contests, starting with a Thursday night (Jan. 21) matchup versus Oklahoma Panhandle State inside the Anchor D Arena. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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