Azusa Pacific Falls Short

Azusa Pacific failed to win its first NAIA championship Tuesday, instead allowing unseeded John Brown to rally and become the first team from Arkansas to win the title, 65-55.

Brandon Cole scored 25 points, including 12 on four straight possessions for the Golden Eagles of Siloam Springs, Ark. Pat Smits also made two three-point baskets in the final 1:49 for John Brown (24-11), which outscored Azusa (29-10) over the final five minutes, 13-6.

Ninth-seeded Azusa Pacific trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but rallied behind Adam Greenaway, who made five straight baskets as John Brown struggled to score.

Lance Soderberg capped the 18-5 run with a 12-footer that put Azusa Pacific ahead, 49-48, with 5:12 remaining.

Cole, the tournament’s leading scorer, made two free throws to put John Brown ahead for good.

A moment later, the 6-foot-1 guard rebounded his own miss and made a putback to give the Golden Eagles a 53-49 lead.

Smits then sank his first three-pointer and John Brown was off on its game-ending run.

Smits had 13 points and Adam Workman had 10 for John Brown, which won five games in six days in the tournament.

Greenaway made six shots from the field and finished with 13 points, and Larry English added 12 for Azusa Pacific.

The Cougars charged to a 14-5 lead. Cole then made four shots in a row -- three three-pointers and a reverse layup he converted into a three-point play, to get the Golden Eagles going.