GOODWELL, Okla. -- Behind a balanced attack and strong defensive effort, the John Brown University men's basketball team outlasted Oklahoma Panhandle State in a gritty 60-55 victory on Thursday evening (Jan. 2) inside Anchor D Arena.
In a game defined by defense and timely execution, the Golden Eagles (9-4, 7-2 Sooner Athletic) held off a late Aggies rally to remain tied for second place in the SAC standings. JBU overcame a cold shooting night from beyond the arc, 23 percent (5-of-22), by forcing critical turnovers down the stretch and connecting on 15-of-25 attempts from the charity stripe. OPSU attempted just 11 total on the evening.
Sophomore Trae Oetting led the charge with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in a game-high 35 minutes. Senior Drew Miller added 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while junior Elijah Lawrence chipped in nine points on three triples off the bench. Senior Josh Stewart turned in a flawless shooting performance, scoring 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field, including one from long range.
The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. Panhandle State especially found difficulty piecing together consistent offense, shooting just 30 percent from the floor through the first 12 minutes of action. The Golden Eagles didn't fare much better, however, but found some life midway through the opening frame thanks to a pair of Lawrence triples that maintained a 14-9 run for the Blue and Gold over the final eight minutes of the half. The visitors held an eight-point lead at the break, 31-24.
In the second half, the Aggies opened with the first five points, but then John Brown made its decisive move by stringing together a 12-3 rally that was capped by consecutive layups from LePra George Jr. to open up an 11-point lead, 43-32.
While the visitors' offense struggled through a 29 percent shooting efficiency over the next 10 minutes, Panhandle State used one final 10-4 run to close within three, 55-52, with just under two minutes remaining. Miller's midrange jumper with 46 seconds left following a Klei Nagode steal sealed the win for the Golden Eagles as the defense stacked four stops on the final six OPSU possessions to steal a hard-fought league win on the road.
The teams battled in a very close game. Both squads controlled 37 rebounds, while shooting within one percent of each other. Each side committed eight turnovers, but it was JBU's ability to get to the charity stripe that clinched its 10th straight against Panhandle State.
For the Aggies (3-12, 1-10 SAC), Brown led all scorers with 16 points and six rebounds, while Mike Carter posted a near double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Grant-Brown added nine points on three made triples, but the Aggies were unable to overcome their cold shooting night, finishing at 16 percent from deep (5-of-31).
The Golden Eagles will look to keep its momentum going as they travel to Plainview, Texas, to take on Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 4) inside the Hutcherson Center in the SAC Game of the Week. Tipoff is set for 3:45 p.m., with live coverage available on the SAC Sports Network.
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