Box Score John Brown University scored the final ten points of the overtime period to pull out a 70-65 win over Wayland Baptist on Thursday evening at Hutcherson Center.
The score at the end of regulation was 60-60 after TJ Jacobs hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to give the Pioneers a 60-59 lead. JBU's Adrian Miller hit one of two free throws after he was fouled with ten seconds remaining to tie the score and send the game into OT.
Robert Curtis broke the tie with a jumper in the paint about 90 seconds into the extra period. After a Golden Eagle turnover, George Williams hit a lay-up and converted the subsequent free throw to put the Pioneers up by five with 2:29 on the clock.
On John Brown's end, Coleson Rakestraw missed a three-point attempt, but the visitors got the offensive board and Rakestraw made good on his long second chance to bring JBU back to within two. Rakestraw then gave his team the lead after a WBU miss with a conventional three-point play.
The Pioneers had their chances at the end, but missed on both their long range attempts and were forced to foul.
"Close games are won with mental toughness," said WBU Coach Matt Garnett, after the game. "The only way to develop mental toughness is to be coached everyday in practice."
Four Pioneers scored in double figures. Johnny Terra, Jacobs, and Curtis each had 12 points and Jamie Eisinger added 11.
JBU, which improved to 14-5 and 6-5 in conference play, was led by Rakestraw with 18 and Adrian Miller with 15.
The Pioneers shot 45 percent from the field and won the battle of the boards, 42-30, but were outscored 34-24 in the paint. The Golden Eagles, which had a 43 percent field goal percentage, put in 13 second chance points off nine offensive rebounds. WBU got just one point off five offensive boards.
Next up for the WBU men, who fell to 8-10 and 2-8, is #5 Rogers State University on Saturday afternoon. That game is scheduled to tip-off at 3:00.
