Joksimovic unstoppable off bench as men’s basketball plays tough defense
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Sophomore Kristijan Joksimovic could hardly miss as he scored a career-high 21 points, including three triples, and the John Brown University men's basketball team started a new winning streak with a 94-60 win over Ozark Christian (Mo.) on Tuesday night (Nov. 15) inside Bill George Arena.
Highlighted with a pair of slams and a trio of long-range bombs, Joksimovic hit 9-of-11 from the field and added four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals as the Golden Eagles (3-1) improved to 2-0 at home.
Junior Benjamin Smith registered 18 points on the strength of four treys and grabbed five boards while sophomore Dwayne Hart added 13 points off the bench, posting a season high.
The John Brown defense forced Ozark Christian (0-4) into 17 turnovers and just 22 boards. Out-sized and short on reserves, OCC shot an admirable 40 percent from the field (20-of-50), but 17 second-chance points and a 52-30 advantage in the paint powered JBU to the 34-point win.
Almost 65 percent of John Brown's scoring came off the bench as reserves combined for 60 points.
Hitting 11 of its first 12 field goal attempts, JBU bolted out to a quick 28-12 lead midway through the first half. Ten triples in the first half built a comfortable 57-25 lead at the intermission, but the Ambassadors responded in the second frame, playing the hosts to a 37-35 period.
Deion Clark and Conner McKenzie each scored 20 points and nabbed three rebounds for the visitors, who have played MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Southwestern (Kan.) and now JBU in a daunting season-opening four-game stretch on the road.
Freshman Nathan Corder picked up a trio of three-pointers to add nine points as every Golden Eagle that played found the scoresheet.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Friday night (Nov. 17) with a rematch with Evangel (Mo.) at 8 p.m. JBU won the first round, 95-91, in Springfield last Saturday (Nov. 12).
