John Brown came up with key shots all through the second half to claw back against Oklahoma City on Saturday, but the Golden Eagles came up empty in the game's final moments.
Oklahoma City outscored JBU 13-3 in the final 3 minutes, 47 seconds as the Stars walked out of Bill George Arena with a 76-67 victory over the Golden Eagles.
Sooner Athletic Conference Basketball Standings
MEN^CONFERENCE^OVERALL
^W-L^W-L
Texas Wesleyan^8-2^17-4
MACU^7-3^17-5
Oklahoma City^7-3^10-6
Science and Arts^6-4^11-7
SW Christian^6-4^10-9
SAGU^5-5^14-8
Wayland Baptist^4-6^12-9
John Brown^4-6^11-11
St. Gregory’s^2-8^7-11
Bacone^1-9^2-19
January 7
Mid-America Christian 93, John Brown 75
Oklahoma City 91, Bacone 77
Southwestern Christian 85, Southwestern Assemblies of God 66
Wayland Baptist 105, St. Gregory’s 90
Texas Wesleyan 104, Science and Arts of Oklahoma 87
January 9
John Brown 75, Oklahoma City 64
Mid-America Christian 95, Wayland Baptist 85
Southwestern Christian 62, Texas Wesleyan 60
St. Gregory’s 102, Bacone 81
Southwestern Assemblies of God 88, Science and Arts of Oklahoma 69
January 14
John Brown 88, Southwestern Christian 77
Mid-America Christian 92, Oklahoma City 78
Science and Arts of Oklahoma 98, Wayland Baptist 92
Southwestern Assemblies of God 71, St. Gregory 64
Texas Wesleyan 89, Bacone 53
January 16
Texas Wesleyan 83, John Brown 73
Southwestern Christian 64, Wayland Baptist 61
Southwestern Assemblies of God 78, Oklahoma City 75 (OT)
Mid-America Christian 105, St. Gregory’s 96
Science and Arts of Oklahoma 107, Bacone 97
January 21
Science and Arts of Oklahoma 96, John Brown 85
Oklahoma City 64, St. Gregory’s 61
Southwestern Christian 74, Bacone 59
Texas Wesleyan 86, Wayland Baptist 84
Mid-America Christian 98, Southwestern Assemblies of God 88
January 23
John Brown 78, Bacone 72
Wayland Baptist 76, Southwestern Assemblies of God 75
Mid-America Christian 72, Southwestern Christian 69
Texas Wesleyan 78, St. Gregory’s 68
Oklahoma City 89, Science and Arts of Oklahoma 82
January 26
Science and Arts of Oklahoma 95, Mid-America Christian 93
January 28
John Brown 80, St. Gregory’s 64
Oklahoma City 70, Wayland Baptist 67
Mid-America Christian 102, Bacone 88
Southwestern Christian 78, Science and Arts of Oklahoma 69
Texas Wesleyan 84, Southwestern Assemblies of God 76
January 30
Oklahoma City 76, John Brown 67
Southwestern Christian 88, Wayland Baptist 84 (OT)
Texas Wesleyan 91, Mid-America Christian 71
Bacone 83, St. Gregory’s 74
Science and Arts of Oklahoma 99, Southwestern Assemblies of God 79
JBU (11-11, 4-6) took a 64-63 lead on two free throws from Josh Bowling -- only the third time JBU led in the whole game.
But the lead was short-lived. Oklahoma City's Jamil Donovan was fouled with 3:47 left and he hit the first free throw to tie the game 64-64.
Donovan's second free throw missed, but the Stars corralled the rebound and found Jordan Mason for a 3-pointer that gave Oklahoma City a 67-64 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Ricky Roberts missed a layup on the other end for JBU, which would go without a field goal over the rest of the game.
Meanwhile the Stars extended their lead in the final minutes with Terence Bonhomme's 3-pointer, a basket by Dorion Gigger and three players combining to hit 5 of 6 free throws.
"Whatever it is -- as coaches and as players -- we've got to find a way to get things done down the stretch because that's where we've lost a lot of games this year," said JBU head coach Jason Beschta.
The Golden Eagles trailed the entire first half and fell behind 35-26 at halftime after a basket by Bonhomme.
JBU came out and quickly tied the game up in the second half after a 9-0 run, which began with a 3-pointer from Luke Moyer and followed by baskets by Miguel Martinez and Roberts and two free throws from Roberts.
A jump shot from Lou Dunbar gave Oklahoma City a 42-39 lead later in the half, but Moyer's 3-pointer tied the game at 42, and JBU took its first lead on its next possession on two free throws by Moyer.
The Golden Eagles extended that lead to 46-42 on two more free throws from Roberts, but Oklahoma City went on a 9-1 run to establish control in the second half and lead 51-47.
The Stars led 61-54 when JBU went on a 10-2 run to take the lead 64-63.
Beschta said the Golden Eagles did a good job of fighting to get back in the game, but he said they've got to take it a step further.
"The best teams that will finish at the top of our league are the teams that win close games," Beschta said. "They've got players who make the plays. It doesn't mean we can't do it, but man, we've got to find a way to do it."
Bonhomme led Oklahoma City with 23 points, including four 3-pointers. Evan White added 13 for the Stars, while Gigger had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Dunbar chipped in 10 points.
The Stars (10-6, 7-3) hit 28 of 57 (49.1 percent) from the field and 11 of 24 (45.8) percent from behind the 3-point line.
"We hit some big shots late and came up with some key stops at the right moment," said first-year Oklahoma City coach Vinay Patel.
Moyer led JBU with 17 points, while Griffin Brady had 14, Roberts 12 and Bowling 11.
The two teams split the season series with JBU winning 75-64 at Oklahoma City.
The Stars won their fourth straight game and improved to 5-1 on the road in league play.
"It really starts on the defensive end for us," Patel said. "That's kind of where we put ourselves in position to get games late. If you look at our scores, we don't win by a lot when we do win. All our games have been pretty close. Even the last time we played John Brown, it was really tight until the end and we had to foul and John Brown separated from us.
These are two of the best defensive teams in the league. John Brown, they do not get enough credit for the defense that they play, but I feel like they're one of the better defensive teams in the conference. They do an extremely good job with their team."
JBU returns to action on Thursday at home against Southwestern Christian before traveling to Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Saturday.
Men
Oklahoma City 76, John Brown 67
Oklahoma City^35^41^--^76
John Brown^26^41^--^67
Oklahoma City (10-3, 7-3): Bonhomme 23, White 13, Gigger 10, Dunbar 10, Reed 8, Allen 6, Mason 3, Chapman 2, Donovan 1.
John Brown (11-11, 4-6): Moyer 17, Brady 14, Roberts 12, Bowling 11, English 5, Caudle 3, Martinez 3, Smith 1, Waller 1.
Sports on 02/03/2016