Pioneers fall short against No. 22 JBU

Wayland Baptist couldn't make a nine-point first-half lead over No. 22 John Brown University stand up as the Pioneers dropped a 72-67 decision to the Golden Eagles in Sooner Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center.

The Pioneers (4-3, 3-2 SAC) started strong, surging to a 27-18 advantage late in the first half. But the Golden Eagles (3-3, 3-3) outscored Wayland 14-4 the rest of the half, benefiting from a long 3-pointer at the halftime horn from D.J. Ellis to take a 32-31 lead at the break.

The second half was back-and-forth the entire way with seven lead changes in the first five minutes and 18 total. Wayland's largest lead was five, 46-41, as was JBU's on three occasions late in the contest.

The Pioneers were last on top 61-60 with five minutes to play, but the Golden Eagles went on an 8-2 run – featuring back-to-back corner 3s from Noah Taylor – to assume a five-point cushion. Wayland never saw the lead again.

Devin Avent cut it to three for the Pioneers by draining a pair of free throws, but Densier Carnes matched them for JBU – which up to then had made just 1-of-7 free throws – with 12 seconds left. After a timeout, Avent drove the lane and got a layup to fall to again make it a one-possession difference with six ticks left, but JBU's Luke Harper iced it with two more clutch foul shots with three seconds left.

It was the third straight win for the Golden Eagles after three season-opening setbacks.

Avent led all scorers with 20 points as he hit four of Wayland's 10 3s. Jordan Brannon, playing his first game since the season-opener, was the only other Pioneer in double figures with 11 to go with six assists. Carnes led the Golden Eagles with 17 points, followed by harper with 15 and D.J. Ellis with 12.

Both teams struggled from the foul line, where Wayland hit 60 percent (9-of-15) and JBU 46 percent (5-of-11). The Pioneers shot 51 percent (24-of-47) from the field, including 10-of-18 3s (56 percent), while the Golden Eagles shot 54 percent overall (28-of-52) including 46 percent (11-of-24) from distance.

The Pioneers were outrebounded, 31-24, and both teams suffered 17 turnovers.

Wayland assistant coach Landon Hughey was disappointed in the team's second loss in three games but said the Pioneers' future is promising.

 "We're close. Our best basketball is ahead of us," Hughey said. "We just have to continue to grow and improve daily."

The Pioneers hit the road next week to take on Central Christian (6-1, 0-0) on Thursday night in Kansas and Langston (0-2, 0-2) Jan. 30 in Oklahoma. Both the Tigers and Lions were set to play their first SAC games on Saturday.