SILOAM SPRINGS -- Junior DJ Ellis scored a career-high 21 points, but the Drovers closed the game on a quick 4-0 to break a 63-all tie as the John Brown University men's basketball team nearly upset No. 15 Science & Arts (Okla.) on Thursday (Jan. 13) evening inside Bill George Arena.
Ellis' mid-range jumper tied the contest for John Brown (11-7, 5-5 Sooner Athletic) with just over a minute remaining, the third time JBU knotted the score in the second half, but USAO's leading scorer Cameron Hines hit an impressive fadeaway jumper on the ensuing possession to give the visitors the lead for good.
After the teams traded misses, John Brown had one more chance to tie the score, but were unable to find the equalizing bucket, forcing a foul. Rory Pantophlet hit both of his attempts at the line to ice the contest.
The Golden Eagles erased a 10-point Drover (13-3, 8-1) advantage late in the first half, using a Payton Guiot triple and a layup from Ira Perrier in the lane to pull within five, 32-27, at the intermission. Perrier and Guiot both hit buckets in the paint to open the second half to whittle the USAO lead to one, 32-31, and the teams would play neck-and-neck basketball for the remainder of the contest.
Science & Arts did re-establish their 10-point lead, albeit one that quickly faded. After pulling ahead 56-46, Perrier's bucket jump-started a 12-5 run by the hosts that pulled the Golden Eagles within three after junior Nemaja Obradovic split a pair at the line. Guiot's third triple of the contest tied the score at 61 apiece before the visitors finished the game on a 6-2 run.
Both teams shot under 40 percent, but John Brown battled through a difficult 25 percent shooting effort in the first half to hit 23-of-72 from the floor (32 percent). USAO shot 42 percent in the second half to finish 27-of-70 (39 percent) overall on the evening.
Four Drovers finished in double-figure scoring, led by Pantophlet's second double-double of the season. He ended the evening with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, and added 15 rebounds in the win. After a pedestrian first half, USAO's leading scorer Cameron Hines followed closely behind with 14 points while Jaden Causwell and Stephon Hall contributed 13 and eight 11 points, respectively.
Ellis hit career highs in points (21), field goals made (8) and triples (5), and added six rebounds and two assists. Guiot hit three treys to contribute 11 points, while Perrier ended the night with his first double-double of the season – 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Ellis is now averaging 18 points per game over his last five outings.
John Brown will now travel to the Sid Richardson Center in Ft. Worth to face Texas Wesleyan on Saturday (Jan. 15). The tip is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. and will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Twitter (@JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and Facebook (/JBUathletics).
