SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Despite opening the night with an early lead, the John Brown University men's basketball fell 75-66 to Texas Wesleyan on Thursday night (Jan. 22) inside Bill George Arena, as free-throw volume, transition scoring and bench production allowed the Rams to sweep the season series.
Junior Trae Oetting led the Golden Eagles with 19 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. Senior LePra George followed with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while senior Josh Stewart added nine points and seven rebounds.
Senior Donovan Lovelace finished with 10 rebounds and three assists, and sophomore Carter Carbonell scored eight points off the bench, connecting on 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
John Brown (9-10, 6-7 Sooner Athletic) shot efficiently throughout the night, converting 44 percent from the field (24-of-54) and 40 percent from three-point range (10-of-25). The Golden Eagles also held a 36-30 rebounding advantage and scored 12 second-chance points, keeping the game within reach despite possession challenges.
After the early Blue and Gold lead evaporated, the opening half featured sustained back-and-forth play, with the teams combining for five lead changes and before intermission. JBU converted 44 percent from the field (12-of-27) and 63 percent from three-point range (5-of-8) in the first half, while Texas Wesleyan generated scoring via seven JBU turnovers converted into 12 points – allowing the visitors to carry a 35-31 lead into the break.
After halftime, Texas Wesleyan extended the margin through continued pressure in transition and frequent trips to the charity stripe. The Rams attempted 20 free throws in the second half, converting 16, while John Brown attempted six free throws after the break. Although the Golden Eagles maintained its shooting percentages, the scoring gap at the line proved difficult to overcome.
The Blue and Gold maintained a narrow lead through the entirety of the second half until TXWES took a 65-64 lead with 2:26 remaining and never relinquished the advantage. JBU moved to 0-10 on the year when shooting under 45 percent.
Texas Wesleyan (13-5, 9-4) received a significant contribution from its bench, led by Anthony Sierras, who finished with 22 points off the bench – 14 in the first half, knocking down 3-of-6 from three-point range and converting all nine of his free-throw attempts. Khalil Turner added 18 points and six assists, while Daylan Hamilton scored 13 points and Daniel Oravbiere chipped in eight.
The Rams converted 18 fast-break points and scored 48 points in the paint, offsetting John Brown's 36-30rebounding edge. Texas Wesleyan also turned 15 JBU turnovers into 18 points, while the Golden Eagles scored nine points off just five Ram miscues.
Texas Wesleyan finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field (22-of-56) and 39 percent from three-point range (9-of-23), while converting 22-of-29 at the line.
The Blue and Gold will look to rally as its short two-game homestand closes on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24) at 4 p.m. The Golden Eagles will battle with Nelson (Texas) live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network.
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