HENDERSON, Tenn. – A top-15 battle lived up to its billing with the No. 7 Freed-Hardeman University Lions hosting the No. 11 Central Baptist (Ark.) College Mustangs. Regulation was not enough. One overtime was not enough. It took two overtime periods to determine the victor with FHU battling to the 91-89 win.

A defensive battle from the tipoff, the Lions (5-1) got on the board first at 17:47 with a jumper from Peyton Law. Central Baptist would answer with a 3-pointer before Phil Horton’s jumper ignited a seven-point run capped by Blake Dean’s triple. The Mustangs answered to tie the game with a layup at 9:32, but FHU took a lead and then some, scoring 12 unanswered points with Jordan Stephens’ long ball putting the Lions on top 26-14 with 5:13 remaining in the first act. Late free throws and late 3-pointers from CBC narrowed the gap when time expired on round one with FHU leading 37-30 at the break.

The Mustangs (5-1) came out of the locker room with the same momentum they entered, scoring the first seven points of the second half including a free throw tying the game at 17:12. From there, neither team would lead by more than two possessions with Phil Horton pushing the Lions ahead by scoring eight points in just over one minute. A 3-pointer from Stephens tied the game with 1:56 remaining in regulation before the Mustangs were able to take a three-point lead into the final 60 seconds. Horton again had the big bucket, draining a 3-pointer with five seconds to go before blocking the last shot attempt to end regulation in a 76-76 tie.

CBC opened the first overtime by taking a four-point lead; however, Geralo Lane joined Horton at the charity stripe to go 4-4 with Horton’s with 30 seconds tying the game 82-82. Vying for the last shot, the Mustangs attempted a 3-pointer with three seconds left, but Lane secured the rebound to force a second overtime.

The Lions drew first blood in the second overtime with a jumper from Law, but the Mustangs answered with a 3-pointer. Stephens connected for a jumper to give FHU a lead they would maintain until the end. A 3-pointer narrowed the gap to one point, but Lane again hit his free throws with two seconds to go to claim the victory 91-89.

FHU out-rebounded CBC 51-36 and dominated from the bench with FHU scoring 44 points to CBC’s 18 bench points. The Mustangs were led by Sage Borbon’s 43 points including 10 3-pointers.

Peyton Law and Geraldo Lane both tallied double-doubles with Law sinking 20 points with a team-high 12 rebounds while Lane scored 18 points with 10 rebounds. Phil Horton was a rebound short of a double-double with 20 points and nine boards. Jordan Stephens tallied 19 points and a team-high four assists in the win.

The post Mustangs no longer undefeated after 2OT loss in Tennessee appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

Saturday, Aug. 27
Missouri Baptist at Lyon

Thursday, Sept. 1
Arkansas-Monticello at Southern Nazarene
Missouri State at Central Arkansas
Northwestern Oklahoma at Southern Arkansas
Ouachita at Oklahoma Baptist
Southwestern Oklahoma at Henderson State

Saturday, Sept. 3
Arkansas Tech at Southeastern Oklahoma
Austin at Hendrix
Cincinnati vs. Arkansas
Grambling State at Arkansas State
Harding at East Central
Lane at Arkansa-Pine Bluff
OUAZ at Lyon

Saturday, Sept. 10
Arkansas State at Ohio State
Central Arkansas at Ole Miss
East Central at Arkansas Tech
Henderson State at Northwestern Oklahoma
Hendrix at Washington
Lyon at Wayland Baptist
North American at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Oklahoma Baptist at Arkansas-Monticello
South Carolina vs. Arkansas
Southern Arkansas at Southwestern Oklahoma
Southern Nazarene at Ouachita
Southeastern Oklahoma at Harding

Saturday, Sept. 17
Arkansas State at Memphis
Arkansas-Monticello at Henderson State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Oklahoma State
Central Arkansas at Idaho State
Hendrix vs. Howard Payne
Missouri State vs. Arkansas
Ouachita at Arkansas Tech
Southern Arkansas at Harding

Saturday, Sept. 24
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Arkansas State at Old Dominion
Arkansas Tech at Arkansas-Monticello
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alcorn State
Central Arkansas at Southeast Missouri
Harding at Ouachita
Henderson State at Southern Arkansas
Oklahoma Panhandle at Lyon

Saturday, Oct. 1
Alabama at Arkansas
Arkansas-Monticello at Southwestern Oklahoma
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern
Austin Peay at Central Arkansas
East Central at Southern Arkansas
Lyon at Langston
Oklahoma Baptist at Harding
Ouachita at Northwestern Oklahoma
Southeastern Oklahoma at Henderson State
Southern Nazarene at Arkansas Tech
Trinity at Hendrix
ULM at Arkansas State

Saturday, Oct. 8
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Arkansas Tech at Oklahoma Baptist
Harding at Southern Nazarene
Henderson State at East Central
Hendrix at Millsaps
James Madison at Arkansas State
Lindenwood at Central Arkansas
Lyon at Arizona Christian
Northwestern Oklahoma at Arkansas-Monticello
Southern Arkansas at Southeastern Oklahoma
Southwestern Oklahoma at Ouachita
Texas Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Saturday, Oct. 15
Arkansas at BYU
Arkansas State at Southern Miss
Arkansas-Monticello at Ouachita
Central Arkansas at Kennesaw State
Henderson State at Harding
Sewanee at Hendrix
Southern Arkansas at Arkansas Tech
Texas College at Lyon

Sunday, Oct. 16
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alabama A&M

Saturday, Oct. 22
Arkansas State at Louisiana
Arkansas Tech at Henderson State
Centre at Hendrix
Harding at Arkansas-Monticello
Ouachita at Southern Arkansas
SAGU at Lyon

Saturday, Oct. 29
Arkansas at Auburn
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Florida A&M
East Central at Ouachita
Henderson State at Southern Nazarene
Hendrix at Birmingham-Southern
North Alabama at Central Arkansas
Northwestern Oklahoma at Harding
South Alabama at Arkansas State
Southeastern Oklahoma at Arkansas-Monticello
Southern Arkansas at Oklahoma Baptist
Southwestern Oklahoma at Arkansas Tech

Saturday, Nov. 5
Arkansas Tech at Northwestern Oklahoma
Arkansas-Monticello at East Central
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State
Central Arkansas at Eastern Kentucky
Harding at Southwestern Oklahoma
Liberty at Arkansas
Lyon at Louisiana Christian
Oklahoma Baptist at Henderson State
Ouachita at Southeastern Oklahoma
Rhodes at Hendrix
Southern Nazarene at Southern Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 12
Arkansas Tech at Harding
Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin
Hendrix at Berry
Lyon at Texas Wesleyan
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Ouachita at Henderson State
Prairie View A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Southern Arkansas at Arkansas-Monticello
UMass at Arkansas State

Saturday, Nov. 19
Arkansas State at Texas State
Jacksonville at Central Arkansas
LSU at Arkansas

Thursday, Nov. 25
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama State

Friday, Nov. 26
Arkansas at Missouri
Troy at Arkansas State

The post 2022 Arkansas college football composite schedule appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

KANSAS CITY – John Brown junior Terrah Stephens was named NAIA Women’s Basketball National Player of the Week for Week 8 of the 2021-2022 season.

In JBU’s 78-73 overtime win over Panhandle State, Stephens rewrote three single-game program records, including total points, field goals made and field goals attempted by finishing the afternoon with a 45-point outing on 18-of-27 shooting from the floor. Finishing 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, she completed her fifth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.

Stephens also hit another milestone and punched her ticket into the 1,000 point club. The Wyandotte, Okla. native became the 19th entry onto the prestigious list in the third when her hook shot fell after shedding a defender with a pivot back into the middle.

The post John Brown’s Stephens named NAIA WBB National Player of the Week appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

Saturday, Aug. 28
Lyon at Missouri Baptist

Thursday, Sept. 2
Henderson State at Southwestern Oklahoma
Oklahoma Baptist at Ouachita
Southeastern Oklahoma at Arkansas Tech
Southern Arkansas at Northwestern Oklahoma
Southern Nazarene at Arkansas-Monticello

Saturday, Sept. 4
Central Arkansas at Arkansas State
East Central at Harding
Hendrix at Austin
Lane at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Lyon at OUAZ
Rice at Arkansas

Saturday, Sept. 11
Arkansas Tech at East Central
Arkansas-Monticello at Oklahoma Baptist
Central Arkansas at Missouri State
Harding at Southeastern Oklahoma
Memphis at Arkansas State
Northwestern Oklahoma at Henderson State
Ouachita at Southern Nazarene
Southwestern Oklahoma at Southern Arkansas
Texas at Arkansas
Wayland Baptist at Lyon

Saturday, Sept. 18
Arkansas State at Washington
Arkansas Tech at Ouachita
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Central Arkansas
Georgia Southern at Arkansas
Harding at Southern Arkansas
Henderson State at Arkansas-Monticello
Hendrix at Howard Payne

Saturday, Sept. 25
Alcorn at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (at Arlington, Texas)
Arkansas State at Tulsa
Arkansas-Monticello at Arkansas Tech
Lyon at Oklahoma Panhandle State
Ouachita at Harding
Sam Houston at Central Arkansas
Southern Arkansas at Henderson State

Saturday, Oct. 2
Arkansas at Georgia
Arkansas State at Georgia Southern
Arkansas Tech at Southern Nazarene
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie A&M
Central Arkansas at Abilene Christian
Centre at Hendrix
Harding at Oklahoma Baptist
Henderson State at Southeastern Oklahoma
Langston at Lyon
Northwestern Oklahoma at Ouachita
Southern Arkansas at East Central
Southwestern Oklahoma at Arkansas-Monticello

Thursday, Oct. 7
Coastal Carolina at Arkansas State

Saturday, Oct. 9
Arizona Christian at Lyon
Arkansas at Mississippi
Arkansas-Monticello at Northwestern Oklahoma
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama State
Birmingham-Southern at Hendrix
East Central at Henderson State
Oklahoma Baptist at Arkansas Tech
Ouachita at Southwestern Oklahoma
Southeastern Oklahoma at Southern Arkansas
Southern Nazarene at Harding

Saturday, Oct. 16
Arkansas Tech vs. Southern Arkansas (at El Dorado)
Auburn at Arkansas
Eastern Kentucky at Central Arkansas
Harding at Henderson State
Hendrix at Rhodes
Lyon at Texas College
Ouachita at Arkansas-Monticello
Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Thursday, Oct. 21
Louisiana at Arkansas State

Saturday, Oct. 23
Arkansas-Monticello at Harding
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas
Berry at Hendrix
Central Arkansas at Lamar
Henderson State at Arkansas Tech
Lyon at SAGU
Southern Arkansas at Ouachita

Saturday, Oct. 30
Arkansas State at South Alabama
Arkansas Tech at Southwestern Oklahoma
Arkansas-Monticello at Southeastern Oklahoma
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas Southern
Central Arkansas at Jacksonville State
Harding at Northwestern Oklahoma.
Hendrix at Trinity
Southern Arkansas at Oklahoma Baptist
Ouachita at East Central
Southern Nazarene at Henderson State

Saturday, Nov. 6
Appalachian State at Arkansas State
East Central at Arkansas-Monticello
Grambling State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Henderson State at Oklahoma Baptist
Hendrix at Millsaps
Louisiana College at Lyon
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Northwestern Oklahoma at Arkansas Tech
Southeastern Oklahoma at Ouachita
Southern Nazarene at Southern Arkansas
Southwestern Oklahoma at Harding
Texas Wesleyan at Central Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 13
Arkansas at LSU
Arkansas State at ULM
Arkansas-Monticello at Southern Arkansas
Florida A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Harding at Arkansas Tech
Henderson State at Ouachita
Hendrix at Sewanee
Stephen F. Austin at Central Arkansas
Texas Wesleyan at Lyon

Saturday, Nov. 20
Arkansas at Alabama
Arkansas State at Georgia State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M
Central Arkansas at Tarleton State

Friday, Nov. 26
Missouri at Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 27
Texas State at Arkansas State

* Arkansas Baptist College schedule pending

The post 2021 Arkansas college football composite schedule appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

CONWAY – The 2021 spring sports season came to end this past Thursday with Ally Swaim (JR/Vilonia, Ark.)’s 100-meter hurdles run in the prelims at the NAIA National Track & Field Championship. Spring Sports did not see a single COVID-related cancelation on their schedule through the season, but there was an effect of snow as a storm put the season on ice for a week in February.

Baseball finished the season 24-20 with an appearance in the American Midwest Conference tournament, which ended in a disappointing 11-7 loss to Hannibal-LaGrange in the first round. CBC did have six players selected for all-conference honors, headlined by Andrew Killough (FR/Vilonia, Ark.) and Ruben Hernandez (FR/Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), who were selected as the AMC’s freshman pitcher and freshman player of the year. 15 players were also selected to the AMC All-Academic Team for their performances in the classroom.

Softball went 34-15 on the season and earned their second trip to the NAIA Opening Round. The Mustangs would reach the championship game in Hattiesburg, Miss., but saw their season end in heartbreak in a 2-1 walk-off loss to Houston-Victoria. The softball Mustangs earned seven all-conference selections, headlined by AMC Co-Player of the Year Allison Seats (SR/Jacksonville, Ark.) and AMC Freshman of the Year Hannah Work (FR/Bryant, Ark.). 13 players were also selected to the All-Academic Teams in the AMC for their outstanding work off the field.

Men’s Golf finished fourth in the American Midwest Conference Championship this season, posting a win in the fall at Freed-Hardeman. Three golfers, Colton Ryan (SR/Benton, La.), Spencer LaBarbera (SR/Mesquite, Texas) and Anupon Wandee (JR/Bangkok, Thailand) were all named AMC all-conference team members after Ryan finished second, LaBarbera finished eighth and Wandee finished 12th at the championships. Ryan and Emmanuel LaBeur (FR/Villeneuve, Les Avignon, France) were also selected to the AMC All-Academic Team.

Women’s Golf was led by Keeley Bulza this Spring, who posted a top-five finish at the CBC Mustangs Invitational in March. She also earned AMC All-Academic Team honors this season.

Track & Field had two AMC champions this spring, with Swaim capturing her second title in the 100-meter hurdles and Jamal Washington winning the second straight 100-meter title for CBC. Swaim went 7-1 in the 100-meter hurdles this season and posted the 16th fastest time in the nation at 14.52, qualifying for Nationals for the second time in her career. CBC also had 12 athletes selected to the AMC All-Academic Teams this spring.

That wraps up the 2020-21 sports season at CBC. Be sure to check cbcmustangs.com for exciting summer content and follow us @gocbcmustangs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The post Central Baptist College wraps up its spring sports seasons appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Tuesday that the Council of Presidents has approved the applications of three institutions for membership, which will be effective July 1, 2021. Formal approval was voted upon by the NAIA Council of Presidents (COP) on May 27 at the NAIA Convention COP Business Meeting. All three schools received unanimous recommendations from the NAIA Membership Committee.

New members include: Arkansas Baptist College, Johnson University and Ohio Valley University. Of the three, Ohio Valley, moving from NCAA Division II, is a returning member to the NAIA. Nine schools over the course of the last five years moved from the NCAA to the NAIA. As a former member, Ohio Valley (W.Va.) has been approved for immediate reinstatement for NAIA postseason competition. Immediate reinstatement is a benefit afforded to former members that return to the NAIA.

“We are happy to welcome Arkansas Baptist, Johnson and Ohio Valley to the NAIA,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “We are proud to continue to see schools that are eager to join the NAIA that fit so well with our five core character values.”

The NAIA has shown to be a better fit for several NCAA DII and DIII schools. In some cases, NAIA members are spending as much as 40% less than their counterparts in the NCAA, while still operating high-caliber athletics programs.

Arkansas Baptist from Little Rock, Ark., will transition from the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) to the NAIA as it also transitions from a two-year school to a four-year degree-granting institution.

Johnson University from Knoxville, Tenn., will enter the NAIA coming from the National Christian Collegiate Athletics Association.

The NAIA has now added 11 new members since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, including four institutions that are former members that have returned from the NCAA.

The NAIA reviews member applications based on two cycles. Schools can apply by July 1 to receive a decision in October, or they can apply by October 1 to receive a decision at the spring convention. Schools must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation, and a commitment to character-driven athletics. Enrollment numbers, retention rates, and overall financial commitment to athletics are also taken into consideration.

The post Arkansas Baptist approved for NAIA membership appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

PARAGOULD – Playing their third game in less than a week, Central Baptist College men’s basketball took on the Pioneers of Crowley’s Ridge tonight at the Carter Activities Center. CBC (3-2) used a hot shooting first half to claim a big lead and they never trailed, beating CRC (1-6) 87-62.

Tedrick Wolfe (SR/DeWitt, Ark.) led five Mustangs in double figures with 16 points. Zach Hudson (SR/Jackson, Miss.) notched his second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds while also blocking four shots. Brevin Brimble (JR/Colorado Springs, Colo.) chipped in with 12, and TaJuan Johnson(SR/Chicago, Ill.) and Kelvin Robinson (SR/Little Rock, Ark.) both had 11 apiece. CBC shot 56 percent from the floor and from three in the first half and finished 50 percent for the game from the floor and 33 percent from three while making 16 of their 21 free throw attempts. The Mustangs also dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Pioneers 58-29.

Brimble made the first basket of the game, a three 25 seconds into the contest, and CBC set sail from there, racing out to a 49-27 lead at the half. CBC never led by less than 15 the rest of the game and cruised to their third straight 25-plus point win.

The Mustangs have a quick turnaround as they will be back on the floor tomorrow night at Reddin Fieldhouse for a contest against Ecclesia. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. with limited attendance policies in place

The post Mustangs beat Pioneers to pick up third win in a row appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

Harry Ballard III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, WR, Sr.
The senior was an All-SWAC performer in his first season playing in Division I. Ballard recorded nearly 1,000 yards receiving on the year and had three multi-touchdown games in 2019.

Isaiah Bradford, Lyon, QB, Jr.
Bradford put together a solid passing season last year, but his leading receiver has gone on to the CFL and there is also a new head coach in Batesville. He has proven himself on the field, was great in leading the Scots in one of the biggest upsets of the year in the NAIA last season (an 18-14 win over OUAZ) and finds ways to distribute to ball to a multitude of different receivers.

Photo courtesy OUA Sports Info.

Brayden Brazeal, Ouachita, QB, Jr.
Brazeal followed a GAC Freshman of the Year campaign without a sophomore slump and led the Tigers last season to another league title, Ouachita’s third in three years. The junior has rushed for just less than 900 yards in two seasons, but his efficiency passing is something to see. He connected on nearly 76 percent of his passes for 1,933 yards last year and had just three interceptions in 12 games.

Demilon Brown, Arkansas-Monticello, QB, So.
Another GAC Freshman of the Year makes this list, as Brown earned the honor for last season’s efforts. He wasn’t asked to pass the ball often (124 attempts), but he led a strong running attack that picked up more than 200 yards per game, at the top of his team’s list with 80 yards per contest. Brown could be the key piece to lift the Weevils into the upper portion of the GAC standings.

Cole Chancey, Harding, RB, Sr.
Running the offense it does, it is to be expected that a Bison would lead the GAC in rushing for the season. Chancey didn’t disappoint with 1,375 yards, picking up 5.8 per carry, and it was his second time in three years to lead the league in rushing yards. The two-time All-American has run for nearly 3,700 yards in his career and is a big factor in Harding’s attempt to make the D-II playoffs for a fifth straight year.

Tre Chism, Arkansas Tech, DL, Sr.
The senior has steadily improved with each season in Russellville and should a rock in the middle of the line for the Wonder Boys this year. Chism led his team in 2019 with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and had 5.5 sacks, which was tied for third in the GAC.

L’liott Curry, Henderson State, WR, Sr.
When Curry lines up on the field, the opposing defense has to take notice. The senior transferred to Henderson State prior to last season and had a stellar year, earning D2Football.com All-American status. Curry racked up more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2019 (1,167) and was top 10 in Division II in receptions per game (7.0) and receiving touchdowns (14).

Photo by Adam Hatmaker, used courtesy HSU Sports Info.

Layne Hatcher, Arkansas State, QB, So.
After spending a redshirt season with the Crimson Tide, the most prolific passer in Arkansas high school history came back to the Natural State to get his college career going. He didn’t get his first start for the Red Wolves until Week Five, but he posted 2,992 passing yards for the season, averaging 299.2 per game, with 27 touchdown passes.

Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas, WR, So.
Hudson had an impact in his first season in Conway, as he was named the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and garnered Freshman All-America honors with Hero Sports. He had 55 receptions and 12 touchdowns, the second most receiving TDs in a season in UCA history. With Breylin Smith back at quarterback, the Bears are getting some preseason notice and it should be fun to see the numbers Hudson puts up in 2020.

Bumper Pool, Arkansas, LB, Jr.
Pool moved into a starting role in 2019 and was second on the team in tackles (94) and tied for second in tackles-for-loss (6.5). The junior is versatile and will see a lot of time on the field, playing also with the special teams unit.

Miles Thompson, Hendrix, QB, Sr.
The Warriors were so close to a trip to the playoffs with tough losses late in the season to finish 7-3. With Thompson back, Hendrix could be in position to make a run at a postseason berth in 2020. He led the SAA in completion percentage (66.2) and was second in the conference in passing yards (216.1) and has a solid receiving corps along with him again this year.

Antonio Washington, Southern Arkansas, DL, Sr.
Definitely a vocal leader for the SAU defense and will likely be so even more this year. Washington often takes up residence in opponents’ backfields. He recorded 13.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks last season, and registered seven hurries.

The post Arkansas college football players to watch in 2020 appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

KANSAS CITY – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that it is cancelling the spring 2020 sports season, effective immediately.

“All possible scenarios that would have supported a spring sports season were seriously considered by multiple NAIA governance groups,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “However, the growing state of emergency due to COVID-19, as well as the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation yesterday to limit gatherings to fewer than 50 people for eight weeks, meant we could not in good conscience move forward with the spring sports season and championships.”

In an effort to provide relief, no spring sport student-athlete will be charged a season of competition. Any spring sport student-athlete who was enrolled full-time in 2020 will be awarded two additional semester terms of attendance or the equivalent.

The NAIA is continuing to address outstanding questions related to these unprecedented changes and will share new information as it becomes available.

The post NAIA cancels Spring 2020 sports season appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The Golden Eagles improved to 5-1 in overtime games this season and six points from Densier Carnes in the fourth period alone powered the No. 9 John Brown University men’s basketball team to a 71-68 double-overtime win over No. 13 Southwestern A.G. (Texas) on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 29) inside the Sheaffer Center.

Carnes’ produced his 12th double-double of the season and scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 11 boards as the Golden Eagles (26-4, 17-3 Sooner Athletic) avoided giving up a 13-point second half lead to a SAGU squad that was without its leading scorer, Nykolas Mason.

As has been the staple this season, the John Brown defense stepped up in the overtime periods. Each team could only muster two points in the first, but the Golden Eagles held the Lions to a 3-of-15 shooting mark over the 10 minutes of extra time as Carnes’ pair of buckets early in double overtime gave JBU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Junior Rokas Grabliauskas hit a big-time jumper in the lane with 1:15 left and a JBU inbound up just one point turned into a fast-break dunk for sophomore Ira Perrier with three seconds remaining in the contest. A long, uncontested triple from SAGU caught iron at the buzzer, but wasn’t close to falling.

The win caps off JBU’s best regular season mark since 2013 and sets up a Sooner Athletic tournament quarterfinal matchup with Oklahoma City on Tuesday night (March 3) inside Bill George Arena at 7 p.m. The Golden Eagles also finish the regular season with a 3-2 record versus NAIA top-25 competition.

“Today was a charged environment with it being their senior day this afternoon,” head coach Jason Beschta said. “They had a great crowd behind them. SAGU made a nice run to take the lead in the second half, but the right things happened for us to find a way to win again in overtime.

“It’s crazy that we’ve played overtime six times this semester, but we have to get some rest and refocus for a quick turnaround game. We’re looking forward to the opportunity of hosting a quarterfinal game on Tuesday night.”

After Grabliasukas connected on a triple just under five minutes into the second half, Carnes pieced together a quick 5-0 run of his own to produce a 46-33 Golden Eagle lead with 13 minutes left in the second half. The host Lions were reeling, scoring only twice so far in the half, but would later use a JBU drought to pull back ahead.

After Luke Harper’s trey kept the Golden Eagles ahead by 11 with 10:20 remaining, John Brown would only get one field goal, a Quintin Bailey bucket in the paint, over the next nine minutes of play, allowing SAGU to pull ahead, 55-54. On his second attempt of the possession, Grabliauskas knocked back a big-time triple to return to the lead back to the visitors, 57-55, but a pair of Lion free throws tied the game up again before both teams’ defenses forced a shot clock violation to end regulation.

Grabliauskas finished with 13 points while Harper worked through a tough shooting day to add 12 points and five assists in the victory.

Neither team shot well, each hitting just 35 percent from the field. The Lions held a 46-40 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards.

Kentton Williams paced the SAGU scoring effort with a double-double, 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Joshua Kashila contributed 19 points and eight rebounds. Howard Turner’s 11-point, eight-rebound effort rounded out the three double-digit scoring performances for the hosts.

The post Golden Eagles cash in on another overtime victory appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.