Hot shooting propels Golden Eagles to TP Game Win
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Senior Ricky Roberts poured in a game-high 31 points and the John Brown University men's basketball team shot 57.4 percent from the field to capture a 104-94 win over Central Baptist (Ark.) on Saturday (Oct. 29) evening inside Bill George Arena.
The win not only moves the Golden Eagles to 1-0 on the season, but also to 35-1 (.972) all-time in the Toilet Paper Game series. It was the second time JBU defeated the Mustangs in the marquee event.
Watch the world-famous Toilet Paper Game toss here.
Roberts shot 6-of-11 from the floor, but created most of his scoring by earning trips to the line, converting 17-of-22 from the charity stripe. Just shy of a double-double, Roberts also added eight rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Brandon Joseph also turned in an impressive season debut off the bench, pouring in an efficient 5-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three point range to finish with 19 points.
Central Baptist (0-1) was led by a trio of double-digit scorers including Fred Albright (20 points), Mike Evans (18 points) and Marcelious Green (17 points), but never held the lead throughout the contest. Both Albright and Evans completed their first double-doubles of the season with 10 and 14 rebounds, respectively.
While the Golden Eagles committed 20 turnovers, its defense played a large role in the victory, keeping CBC to a 7-of-30 mark from behind the arc and a 31-of-80 clip (38.8 percent) from the field. JBU also racked up six blocks, including two each from junior Samuel Egedi and senior Miguel Martinez.
Sophomore Jake Caudle scored his first two points on a bunny hook in the lane at the 18:55 mark, prompting the sellout crowd of 2,109 at Bill George Arena to unload the sea of toilet paper. Caudle hit 3-of-5 from the field, including a pair of triples, to finish with 11 points. Sophomore Benjamin Smith hit 7-of-10 from the floor and poured in a career-high 14 points and added a block.
Although the hosts were out-scored 65-45 in the paint, the John Brown bench provided 41 points of support.
While JBU's lead was once at 13 points, the Mustangs whittled it down to seven, 44-37, with 100 seconds left in the first half. The Golden Eagles responded by building its biggest lead of the half (15) after Caudle and Roberts hit back-to-back triples and Egedi's steal turned into a layup in transition, all within 33 seconds, helping John Brown carry a 52-38 lead into the intermission.
Smith hit a shot in the lane on JBU's first possession of the second half, pushing the lead to a game-high 16, 54-38, but Central Baptist closed in and stayed within single digits for the majority of the second half.
Trying to mount a late comeback, the fouls piled up on the visitors, but JBU responded by knocking down 28-of-40 attempts from the line in the second half.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday (Nov. 3) in Batesville, Ark. when John Brown pays a trip to Lyon (Ark.). Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
