SILOAM SPRINGS -- A strong 15 minutes in the middle of the contest allowed the Golden Eagles to convert a 11-point deficit into a 12-point advantage, but a huge run in the second half allowed North Texas at Dallas to escape the John Brown University men's basketball team and Siloam Springs with a 61-59 final on Monday night (Dec. 12) inside Bill George Arena.
Note: After this contest was played, the University of North Texas at Dallas self-reported an ineligible student-athlete that participated. After approval from the NAIA National Office, John Brown University was awarded a forfeit victory. The final score was then changed to a 2-0 and the individual statistics of the student-athlete was applied to the team. All other final statistics remain as was originally recorded. This official postgame press release reflects the original results and statistics as of Dec. 12, 2022.
During John Brown's 32-11 run that spanned 15:26, freshman Malachi Reeves scored eight, freshman Lukas Gabani added six and a trio of Golden Eagles contributed four points each as the Golden Eagles (3-10, 1-6 Sooner Athletic) shot 57 percent (13-for-23) and held the Trailblazers to a 4-of-18 shooting stretch and five turnovers.
But with the margin at 10 points, a 50-40 JBU lead, UNTD (7-4, 5-2) stormed back with a 16-0 run that lasted 4:13 and held control through the end of the contest.
Jules Moor, a former Division I standout, scored 19 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, converting 9-of-13 from the line. Both team shot over 50 percent in the second period, but the visitor converted on 9-of-13 chances from the charity stripe, while John Brown hit on the three chances it produced.
In the balanced scoring effort, Reeves shot 5-of-7 from the floor to lead John Brown with 15 points. Senior James Beckom and Gabani each chipped in with eight points, while seniors DJ Ellis and Tyren Collins each produced six points in the setback.
The hosts shot just below 50 percent (24-of-49), while UNTD finished 45 percent overall (23-of-51). JBU won the rebounding battle, 28-27, but the Trailblazers edged JBU in points in the paint, 58-46, to compensate for a 1-of-14 effort (7 percent) from behind the arc.
The Golden Eagles return to action in a three-game road trip to open the second semester, starting with Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Thursday evening (Jan. 5) in Plainview. JBU and the Pioneers will clash at 7:45 p.m.
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