OKLAHOMA CITY -- Freshman Josh Stewart scored a career-high 12 points, freshman Malachi Reeves added another dozen, but an early eight-point lead dwindled before the intermission as the John Brown University men's basketball squad battled a tough shooting night in a 56-44 loss at Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Thursday night (Jan. 12) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
John Brown (4-12, 2-8 Sooner Athletic) managed just 30 percent efficiency (16-of-53) from the floor, but stayed competitive by out-rebounded MACU by a 41-39 margin and by controlling the paint, limiting the Evangels (7-9, 4-6) to just 14 points in the paint.
MACU also shot south of 40 percent (22-of-57) and rather pedestrian from long range (6-of-22), but the hosts' shooting numbers were enough to slide past John Brown, breaking a two-game Golden Eagle win streak at the Gaulke.
DaRaun Clark was MACU's lone double-digit scorer (11 points), but led a well-balanced Evangel scoring effort that featured at least five points from eight different scorers.
Stewart completed an and-one play at the 14:19 mark of the first half, which capped off 9-0 JBU rally that reversed a 4-3 deficit and built a 12-4 John Brown advantage. Reeves, senior Tyren Collins and senior James Beckom each provided two points each to contribute to the run.
The host Evangels responded in kind, however, finishing the first half on a 24-11 run saw JBU fall into a 5-of-17 rut from the floor, allowing MACU to build a 28-23 lead at the break.
"We did a lot of things really well tonight – we played the tempo game that we prefer and we defended well, but we just could not shoot the basketball tonight," head coach Jason Beschta noted. "We worked for some really good shots and just had an off night. MACU certainly did a good job of pressuring our shooters, and they also guarded well."
John Brown shot 25 percent (7-of-28) in the second half, but despite the inefficiency, stayed within three or four possessions for the remainder of the contest.
The Golden Eagles welcome Southwestern Christian (Okla.) to the more friendly confines of Bill George Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14) in JBU's first home contest of the new year. The action will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network, with the tip slated for 3:45 p.m.
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