SILOAM SPRINGS — John Brown overcame a slow start behind career-high 25 points from senior guard E.J. McWoods and erased a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Lubbock Christian 84-78 in double-overtime on Saturday afternoon at Bill George Arena, capturing the program's first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference regular season championship.
No. 4 JBU improved to 24-4 overall and 13-1 in the SAC.
McWoods' career scoring day came mainly from the free-throw line, knocking down all 13 attempts. He almost turned in a perfect night from the field, finishing 5-of-6 and 2-of-2 from 3-point range, all while dishing out a game-high six assists. Freshman forward D'Shon Taylor chipped in with his second career double-double, adding 12 boards to his 19-point effort.
Senior guard Coleson Rakestraw of Siloam Springs added 20 points, draining 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
The John Brown offense took some time to find the scoreboard and quickly found itself in a 11-0 hole before Rakestraw's bucket ended the 6 minute, 22 second scoreless drought. Before then, the Golden Eagles turned the ball over five times and missed all six chances from the field.
Kofi Joseph's 3-pointer to open the second half pulled JBU to within nine, 30-21, the first time JBU was able to come within single digits of the Chaps since the 13:33 mark of the first half.
John Brown began to find its scoring touch, racing to a 9-0 run over the next 3:40 on seven-consecutive points from Rakestraw.
Ahead by only a field goal with with 1:42 remaining, Lubbock Christian missed a 3-pointer, but gained the offensive rebound. But JBU’s defense forced a critical turnover with 1:06 left in regulation.
With only 34 seconds, Taylor again stepped up to the line and calmly dropped both chances, tying the score for the first time all night at 55-55, sending the game to the first overtime.
The Chaps took an early two-point advantage, but JBU’s chance at a game-winning bucket with under two seconds left missed with the score still tied at 62-62.
Rakestraw hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second overtime and McWoods sealed the win with clutch free throws.
The Golden Eagles wrap up regular season play at No. 23 Mid-America Christian on Thursday, followed by a Saturday home game against No. 10 Oklahoma Baptist.