SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Four players scored in double figures and John Brown University men's basketball team dominated the interior on both ends of the floor, powering the Golden Eagles to a 94-68 season-opening victory over Ecclesia (Ark.) on Saturday night inside Bill George Arena in the 43rd Annual World-Famous Toilet Paper Game.
Junior Trae Oetting's triple from the deep corner at the 19:16 mark prompted the annual throwing of the toilet paper, commemorating 43 years of the beloved John Brown University tradition.
The Golden Eagles (1-0) shot an even 50 percent from the field (33-of-66) and held the visiting Royals to just 39 percent (25-of-65), including 26 percent from long range. JBU also won the rebounding battle by a decisive 52-28 margin, pulling down 17 offensive boards that produced 18 second-chance points.
Oetting led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, hitting 4-of-8 from three-point range and collecting six rebounds. Junior transfer Donovan Lovelace added 14 points and eight rebounds, and freshman Maliq Sosa matched him with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Senior LePra George went 5-for-5 from the floor for 11 points and two steals, while junior transfer Marko Malekinusic added six points, five rebounds and a block.
Sophomore Carter Carbonell finished with nine points, two assists, and two blocks off the bench, and senior transfer Connor Kern grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in 12 minutes. Senio Josh Stewart tallied four assists, leading JBU, and the Golden Eagles assisted on 13 of their 33 made baskets.
The visitors hung around early, forcing six ties and a pair of lead changes, but after Oetting's bucket tied the game at 15, the Blue and Gold found its rhythm and used 10 points off the bench from Sosa during a six-minute stretch to piece together a 25-6 run, turning a tie into a 19-point advantage, 40-21.
Malekinusic hit a triple and Lovelace added an old-fashioned three-point play down the stretch to maintain the lead at the intermission, allowing the hosts to build a 54-36 halftime lead after shooting 51 percent in the opening half, including six made three-pointers and a 12-of-14 mark at the free-throw line.
The Golden Eagles maintained control after the break, extending their lead to as many as 30 with 1:20 remaining. JBU outscored the Royals 60-33 in the paint and 38-14 in bench production, while also holding a 6-0 edge in fast-break points.
Ecclesia was led by Christian Ford, who scored 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Amarion Hoggan contributed 14 points and three rebounds, and Nate Hauglie added 10 points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists. Brock Wesley finished with nine points, two made threes and a team-best four steals.
The Royals shot 13-of-30 from the foul line (43 percent) and forced 19 JBU turnovers, turning them into 14 points.
The Golden Eagles improve to 12-for-12 in the Beschta era in toilet paper games, and will continue on to host Ozark Christian (Mo.) on Tuesday morning (Nov. 4) at 11:30 a.m. The non-conference clash will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network.
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