FORT WORTH, Texas -- Sophomore Malachi Reeves scored a season-high 25 points, but an Evangel press and second half-opening run was too much for the Golden Eagles as the John Brown University men's basketball team's season came to a close in the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals in a 78-62 loss to Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Monday afternoon (March 4) inside the Sid Richardson Center.
Reeves hit four triples and finished 9-of-18 from the field in his season-best scoring outburst, and senior Tyren Collins joined freshman Trae Oetting with each adding 10 points in the setback as the second-seeded Evangels (23-7) secured its third victory over JBU this season.
John Brown (16-13), the tournament six seed, out-shot MACU in the first half, pouring in 46 percent (10-of-22) of its attempts, which helped overcome 10 miscues. The defense held the Evangels to 38 percent (11-of-29), but the designated home team hit seven triples to carry a narrow two-point lead into the intermission.
Down 10 midway through the first half, JBU used triples from Oetting, Reeves and sophomore Josh Stewart to jump-start a half-ending 17-9 run to close the deficit to 33-31 over the final 7:02, including Reeves' buzzer-beating heave, giving the Blue and Gold all the momentum at halftime.
Employing increased pressure on the Golden Eagles, MACU forced three turnovers and shot 6-of-8 during a pivotal 3:42 stretch that widened the once two-point margin into a 12-point lead, 50-38, just four minutes into the second half.
A short 6-2 JBU spurt midway through the half whittled the deficit to eight, 60-52, but an 11-5 response run from the Evangels ballooned into the eventual 16-point margin.
Mikel Henderson and Magok Manyang each poured in 20 points apiece for Mid-America Christian, with Manyang securing a double-double with 10 rebounds. Eddie Smith came off the bench to contribute nine to the MACU effort, which advances to the tournament finals to take on top-seeded and No. 2 Langston (Okla.).
The Evangels shot nearly 60 percent in the second half (15-of-26), while JBU was limited to 37 percent (11-of-30) from the field as MACU's 11 offensive rebounds produced a lopsided second-chance scoring advantage (18-6).
John Brown closes the season at 16-13, finishing the Sooner Athletic regular season slate in sixth place at 13-9. The Golden Eagles pulled off the SAC tournament's lone upset with its 85-80 win over third-seeded Southwestern A.G. (Texas) in the quarterfinal round.
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