Pioneers can't close out No. 10 John Brown

John Brown University went on a late 16-2 run to overcome a five-point deficit, and NAIA National Player of the Week Densier Carnes came up big in the clutch to lead the 10^th-ranked Golden Eagles to a 64-56 win over Wayland Baptist in Sooner Athletic Conference action Thursday night in Hutcherson Center.

The Pioneers (12-6, 6-4 SAC) held a 50-45 lead with 5:42 to play after the second of two deep 3-pointers by J.J. Culver. But Carnes and the rest of the Golden Eagles (17-2, 8-1) stepped up their game and over the next 4½ minutes and went from a five-point deficit to a nine-point lead.

That run, when Wayland suffered six turnovers and missed all four of its 3-point attempts, saw the Golden Eagles assume a nine-point, 61-52 lead. Wayland's largest deficit prior to that was six in the first half.

Carnes provided seven points during the Golden Eagles' 16-2 run and ended with 26 to go along with nine rebounds. No other Golden Eagle reached double-digits in

Likewise, Culver was the only Pioneer in double figures with 20 to go with his six rebounds and six assists. Jack Nobles finished with nine in what was Wayland's second-lowest offensive output of the season.

Wayland shot 42 percent (21-of-50) from the field, 24 percent (6-of-25) from 3-point range, and 80 percent (8-of-10) from the foul line. The Golden Eagles were at 39 percent from the field (20-of-52), including 33 percent (7-of-21) from deep, and 58 percent (17-of-29) from the charity stripe.

John Brown, the SAC's second-place team behind second-ranked Mid-America Christian (18-0, 9-0), outrebounded Wayland, 36-33, and limited the Pioneers to seven offensive boards; the Golden Eagles got a dozen.

Wayland suffered a season-worst 21 turnovers.

After having their four-game win streak snapped, the Pioneers will look to start a new run when they host winless Bacone (0-16) at 3:45 p.m. Saturday in a non-conference game. Bacone, which exited the SAC after last season, on Thursday fell to Oklahoma-Panhandle State, 76-64. In games just prior to that, the Warriors – now an NAIA Division II independent – narrowly missed logging their first win, falling to Kansas Christian, 80-79, and Southwestern Christian, 81-75.