Key free throws cost men’s basketball against Bobcats
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- After piecing together a strong eight-point lead at the half, 42-34, the John Brown University men's basketball team allowed College of the Ozarks to erase a 10-point deficit in the second half, sending the Golden Eagles to an 88-84 loss inside Bill George Arena on Monday night (Nov. 28).
John Brown (4-3) rode 34 points from junior Jake Caudle, who converted 8-of-10 triples, and junior Marquis Waller, who returned to the lineup to score 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor. However, it was JBU's shooting at the line that provided the difference.
The Bobcats (8-1) converted 21-of-27 at the charity stripe to make up for John Brown's hot shooting, but JBU managed just six conversions on 13 attempts in the second half, more than making up the difference in the final score.
The hosts hit 29-of-53 from the floor (54.7 percent) and 12-of-24 behind the arc, but committed a devastating turnover with eight seconds left.
Down 85-84, the Golden Eagle inbounds attempt was picked off by C of O's DeMon Hyler, who then iced the game with a pair at the line after being fouled. Hyler paced the Bobcats with 19 points off the bench as six visitors finished in double-figure scoring.
Canyon Smith added 15 points and Heath Carmicahel notched 13. Ethan Davidson scored 11 while Calvin Allen and Brandt Cochran each contributed 10 apiece for the visitors.
Freshman Nathan Corder came off the bench to provide a trio of triples to finish with 10 points.
The Golden Eagles committed almost doubled C of O's turnover total, 21-11, but dominated the boards to the tune of 34-21.
JBU returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 2) at Southwestern Christian for a 5 p.m. tip. It will serve as the Golden Eagles' Sooner Athletic opener as the original opener versus St. Gregory's (Okla.) has been forfeited.
