SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — While an 18-point second-half lead nearly evaporated, the John Brown University men’s basketball team hit 15-of-19 from the stripe in the second half to upset No. 7 Science & Arts (Okla.), 83-72, on Saturday afternoon inside Bill George Arena.

A 44.8 percent shooting mark in the first half (13-of-29) and 10 triples propelled the Golden Eagles (14-10, 8-7 Sooner Athletic) into what seemed to be an insurmountable lead at the half, 41-23. The Drovers (19-6, 10-6) shot just 29 percent through the first 20 minutes (9-of-31) and committed eight turnovers.

Junior Jake Caudle hit four triples and shot 5-of-8 from the field in the first half as JBU held Science & Arts to just six points over the final 10 minutes of the half.

Armed with a near 20-point lead to kick off the second half, the Drover offense came alive, fueled by six Greg Smith points. USAO retaliated and went on a 19-4 run over a 6:07 span to pull within three, 47-44, with 13:16 remaining. Brian Robertson’s triple attempt to tie the game wouldn’t fall, however, and from there, John Brown went on a run of its own.

It would be over four minutes until USAO scored it next point, allowing the hosts to pull away on a 14-0 run, jump-started by back-to-back buckets from freshman Jaylon Rucker. Rucker’s triple was followed by treys from junior Marquis Waller and Caudle, and even featured an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman Densier Carnes.

The closest the Drovers would get would be eight points, on four occasions, but the Golden Eagles shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the field and more importantly converted 15-of-19 attempts at the line in the second half. Caudle hit 7-of-8 chances at the stripe.

Thirteen second-half turnovers hampered what could have been an even larger margin of victory for John Brown, which captured its first win over a top-10 ranked opponent this season in the victory.

JBU received nine points apiece from junior Josh Bowling and sophomore Mateo Habazin, helping the hosts to a 31-9 bench-scoring advantage. Committing four more turnovers than USAO allowed the visitors an 18-8 advantage in points off miscues.

Caudle led all players with 24 points on 6-of-11 shooting and five triples. He also added four assists. Waller contributed 15 points and six rebounds and Carnes chipped in with seven points and six rebounds in the win. Both Bowling and Habazin pulled down a team-leading nine rebounds.

JBU dropped 16 dimes on its 24 field goals (66.7 percent) and finished with a 37-35 narrow rebounding advantage.

Smith scored 16 points and Brandon Scott added 14 for a Drover team that struggled with its shooting touch. USAO finished the contest making just 22-of-65 (33.8 percent) after entering the game as one of the conference leaders, making better than 46 percent through the first 24 games.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday at Bacone (Okla.) that previews a three-game week, highlighted by visits from Texas Wesleyan and Southwestern A.G. (Texas) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

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SILOAM SPRINGS – The top Golden Eagle scorers came through in the second half for a pair of goals, fueling the No. 14 and top-seeded John Brown University women’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over third-seeded Science & Arts (Okla.) in the Sooner Athletic tournament finals on Friday evening at Alumni Field.

With the victory, the Golden Eagles (18-1-1) not only earn its first tournament crown since 2013, but secure its fourth-ever spot in the NAIA National Championships. The national selection show will take place on Monday morning.

“That was an awesome team win,” head coach Kathleen Paulsen said. “The things we’ve been working on all year, we executed it. It’s rewarding when we get to do something like this together. It gives us a sense of unity. This is a really special group.

“I couldn’t be more proud. What they accomplished together is bigger than wins and losses, it’s together, seeking to honor God in the way they approach the game. We are looking forward to another game and another opportunity.”

The win for John Brown was its 14th-consecutive win, continuing a program-record winning streak. Last season, the Golden Eagles fell in penalty kicks at Science & Arts in the title game in Chickasha, ending JBU’s hopes of making the National Championships.

Paulsen has now guided the Golden Eagles to four-consecutive tournament title matches and now sports a 1-1-2 mark in the SAC’s biggest game of the season.

Sophomores Aspen Robinson and Jastin Redman each tallied their 18th goals of the season just two minutes apart in the second half, and senior Kristen Morency didn’t need to make a save the entire match as the JBU back line held the Drovers (12-8-1) to just one shot attempt, which came late in the 82nd minute.

The hosts out-shot the Drovers 12-0 in the first half, but only landed three shots on frame, including senior Sara Lachance’s blast in the 31st minute, prompting USAO keeper Brandi Hutchison to make a leaping save falling back into the goal, tipping the shot over the crossbar to preserve the 0-0 deadlock.

Finally, on its 17th shot of the game, Robinson unleashed her 18th of the season and sixth game-winner in the 55th minute. Junior Sara Frey intercepted a loose ball in the midfield and quickly counter-attacked by slotting the ball through to Robinson. Robinson turned and let go a 35-yard bomb that beat Hutchison just under the crossbar.

Finally, with the ice broken, JBU needed just two more minutes before notching the insurance goal.

With the ball bouncing around the USAO goalmouth, Redman’s initial point-blank shot was stopped by Hutchison and a Drover defender was able to block sophomore Anna Brown’s put-back attempt a moment later. The Golden Eagles needed a third attempt, and with Redman crashing the goal, she buried her 18th of the year, all but assuring victory.

“It was a scrappy goal, but I was able to finally shoot it in the goal,” Redman said. “Finally.”

The Drovers did not register a scoring chance in the match as Morency landed her 11the shutout of the season.

“We’re happy with that win,” Robinson said. “Like Coach (Paulsen) said, it was a team victory.”

Robinson finished the match with eight shot attempts while Redman peppered six towards the Drover net. Sophomore Melody Hagen added three shots and Lachance attempted two more.

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