SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The John Brown University men's basketball team erased a 15-point second-half deficit with a sustained surge over the final 16 minutes, rallying past Oklahoma City for an 82-76 regular season finale win Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21) inside Bill George Arena.
The Golden Eagles (12-16, 9-13 Sooner Athletic) trailed 49-39 early in the second half before mounting a 29-12 run that flipped the game and provided the separation needed down the stretch.
The hosts shot 62 percent from the field (18-of-29) in the second half and received 47 points from the bench in the comeback effort.
Junior Trae Oetting led the charge with 25 points off the bench, finishing 8-of-17 from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. Senior Josh Stewart added a season-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, as JBU placed two players above the 20-point mark. Senior LePra George contributed 12 points, while Donovan Lovelace added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
With his team-leading scoring effort, Oetting became the program's 33rd-ever 1,000-point scorer - the first since the trio of Rokas Grabliauskas '22, Luke Harper '22 and Densier Carnes '22.
Oklahoma City built its early advantage behind efficient perimeter shooting and free-throw production, carrying a 42-30 lead into halftime. The Stars converted 82 percent at the line (14-of-17) in the opening half and maintained a double-digit cushion into the early minutes after the break, stretching the margin to 45-30 early in the second half.
From that point, momentum shifted decisively. Beginning with a trio of Lovelace free throws at the 16:14 mark, JBU outscored Oklahoma City 43-27 down the stretch to seize control.
During the pivotal run, Oetting poured in 11 points, including two triples and a pair of free throws, while George added seven points with a jumper, a three-pointer and a putback. Lovelace and freshman Maliq Sosa each contributed four points during the run as the Golden Eagles turned a 10-point deficit into a 68-61 lead with 6:16 remaining.
With the comeback complete, JBU maintained control over the final six minutes, closing the game at the free-throw line and limiting second-chance opportunities to secure the six-point victory.
JBU's efficiency defined the second half. After shooting 31 percent from the field (10-of-32) before the break, John Brown converted 18-of-29 after halftime, attacking the paint and capitalizing at the free-throw line. The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 46 percent overall (28-of-61), 35 percent from three-point range (8-of-23) and 90 percent at the line (18-of-20).
Oklahoma City (18-10, 15-7) was led by Jonas Carlisle's 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. SaVaughn Smith and Alphonse Muteba each added 10 points, while Jackson Hopps contributed nine.
The Stars shot 39 percent from the field (25-of-64) and 37 percent from three (7-of-19), converting 76 percent at the line (19-of-25).
The Golden Eagles held a 49-36 advantage in points in the paint and edged Oklahoma City on the glass, 38-37. JBU's bench production proved decisive, outscoring the Stars' reserves 47-19. Turnovers were nearly even, with John Brown committing six and Oklahoma City five.
JBU returns to action in the postseason, facing second-seeded Langston (Okla.) in the quarterfinal round of the Sooner Athletic tournament next Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 5:30 p.m. The tournament will be hosted at Abe Lemons Arena in Oklahoma City, with all games streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
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