JBU men explode, rout Bacone
The Golden Eagles outscored the Warriors 60-35 in second half.
A strong start to the second half was just what John Brown’s men’s basketball team needed Thursday to pull away from Bacone.
The Golden Eagles opened the second half on a 10-0 run and went on to outscore the Warriors 6535 in the final 20 minutes in a 106-70 rout inside Bill George Arena.
“I thought we did a really good job in that portion,” said JBU men’s coach Jason Beschta. “I mean that was the key for us. (Bacone) had kind of made a little bit of a run at the end of the first half, and they had the momentum I felt like.”
The Golden Eagles had led most of the first half, but the Sooner Athletic Conference’s last place team, Bacone, wouldn’t go away and stayed within 4135 at halftime.
Jake Caudle of Bentonville hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, and Josh Bowling followed with a driving basket. Bowling knocked down a 3-pointer on JBU’s next offensive possesion, and Sam Egedi capped the run with a dunk to give JBU a 51-35 lead.
“It started with our defense,” Beschta said. “Coach (Jeff) Soderquist even caught me in the locker room afterwards and he said ‘that first five minutes (of the second half) was some of the best motion I’ve seen you guys run all year, and we played with such good space.’ I thought we picked apart whatever they were giving us in that stretch, and we found each other for some really good looks and guys knocked down shots.”
Bacone’s JaMael Windom-Hayes scored to end JBU’s run, but another one was just getting started. JBU then went on a 15-2 surge to go up 66-41 midway through the second half after a basket inside by Miguel Martinez.
Things got worse for the Warriors later in the second half when Bacone guard Richie Spiller and head coach Alan Foster picked up technical fouls as JBU increased its lead to 81-53. A basket by Marquis Waller increased the lead to 30 and the Golden Eagles would lead by as much as 40.
JBU outscored the Warriors 65-35 in the second half.
The Golden Eagles hit 38 of 70 shots (54.3 percent) from the field, including 21 of 35 (60 percent) in the second half. JBU knocked down 13 of 28 (46.4 percent) from behind the 3-point line.
Caudle finished with 20 points to lead JBU, while Martinez had 14, Brandon Joseph and Marquis Waller each with 13 and Matthew Ledford with 11.
Beschta was especially pleased with the work of Egedi, who scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“There were just so many different guys that were able to contribute,” Beschta said. “Sam’s been so good at playing his role and it’s not to be some big scorer, but it’s to rebound and defend. I was telling Ty (Beard) here before the game, we didn’t bring him here to do that against some of our nonconference teams, where he might not stand out. Our
conference is so athletic, that’s where we need the potential he has to bring there, and I thought he did a really good job.”
Brandon Scott led Bacone (4-13, 1-8) with 13 points, while Brandon Chatman had 11 and JaMael Windom-Hayes 10.
The Golden Eagles returned to action Saturday at defending NAIA National Champion MidAmerica Christian (Okla.). Results were not available at presstime.
JBU will return to Bill George Arena at 8 p.m. on Thursday against Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas).
JBU upset the Lions 71-64 on Jan. 12 in Waxahachie.
John Brown 106, Bacone 70
Bacone 35 35 — 70 John Brown 41 65 — 106 Bacone (4-13, 1-8): Scott 13, Chatman 11, WindomHayes 10, McNellys 9, Cathey 5, Spiller 4, Oluborode 4, Pritchett 3, Grimes 3, Brewer 3, Caldwell 3, Hopkins 2. John Brown (12-8, 4-5): Caudle 20, Martinez 14, Waller 13, Joseph 13, Ledford 11, Bowling 9, Egedi 9, Roberts 7, Toussaint 4, English 3, Smith 3.