SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- A career night from junior Marko Malekinusic and a decisive second-half shooting response lifted the John Brown University men's basketball team to a 78-76 victory over College of the Ozarks on Tuesday evening (Nov. 25) inside Bill George Arena, securing the Golden Eagles' second consecutive Sooner Athletic win.
Malekinusic delivered a career-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 5-of-8 effort from deep, including 17 points in the second half to power a 51-point period in which the Golden Eagles (5-3, 2-1 Sooner Athletic) shot 72 percent overall (18-of-25) and 79 percent from beyond the arc (11-of-14).
Junior Trae Oetting added 17 points and a career-high eight assists, and senior Donovan Lovelace supplied 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting as JBU overcame a four-point halftime deficit and outlasted a Bobcat effort that featured six ties and 10 lead changes.
After taking an early 15-4 lead, John Brown struggled to find rhythm early, shooting 36 percent in the opening half while College of the Ozarks (2-4, 1-2) relied on efficient scoring to take a 31-27 lead into the break. The visitors built that advantage to as many as eight – a 19-point swing – in the period behind a 13-point period from Jaiden Wilson.
The Golden Eagles' response came quickly to open the second half. Malekinusic netted 17 of his points in the period, while Lovelace and Oetting combined for 22 second-half points. The teams combined to shoot 35-of-51 (69 percent) as the hosts regained a narrow lead entering the closing minutes.
College of the Ozarks continued to counter, shooting 65 percent after halftime and receiving 13 second-half points from Wilson, who finished with a game-high 24. Wilson's two late baskets trimmed a six-point John Brown lead to 76-74 inside the final 30 seconds, and an Andrew Dalton fast-break layup off a JBU turnover pulled the Bobcats level at 76 with 17 seconds remaining.
Oetting drew contact with four seconds to play and knocked down both free throws to restore a two-point advantage. On the ensuing defensive stand, Malekinusic closed his career-best evening with a block on Wilson's potential game-tying layup at the horn, sealing the narrow win.
In addition to Malekinusic's 21, JBU received 12 points from sophomore Carter Carbonell and eight points and six rebounds from senior Josh Stewart. The Golden Eagles finished the night shooting 53 percent from the floor (28-of-53) and 50 percent from long range while logging 22 assists on 28 made baskets (79 percent).
College of the Ozarks placed three players in double figures, including Snyder's 13 and Dalton's 11, and concluded the evening shooting 57 percent overall (28-of-49) and 50 percent from beyond the arc in one of its strongest offensive outings of the year.
John Brown will rest during the Thanksgiving break and return to action on Thursday night (Dec. 4) taking on conference-leading Oklahoma City inside Abe Lemons Arena at 8 p.m. The SAC Sports Network will be providing coverage of the game, for a fee.
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