Hawks rally past JBU for tourney win behind English, Dunklin

SANTA CLARITA – Trailing by as much as 10 points in the first half, the San Diego Christian men’s basketball team dominated the second half en route to a 75-70 win over John Brown University (Ark.).

Trevor English led the team with 24 points as Dalante Dunklin was right on his tail with 23. Dunklin also added 12 rebounds for SDC (7-4).

Griffin Brady scored a team-high 17 points for the Golden Eagles (6-7).

The Hawks were able to get on the board first in the game with a Nathan Klekas layup for a 2-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long and JBU sparked a 16-5 run to take a 16-7 lead with 11:46 left in the first. A Dunklin jumper at the 4:25 mark brought their deficit to four but the Golden Eagles went into the break with a 41-32 lead.

JBU was getting it done from beyond the arc, hitting five 3s in 11 attempts. The Hawks made as many baskets as the Golden Eagles but took 11 more chances, thanks to nine offensive rebounds.

SDC made their charge early in the second half going on a 13-4 run to draw even at 45-45 with 16:08 remaining in the game. With 14:49, Dunklin stole the ball and took it coast to coast with an emphatic dunk to give the Hawks the lead for the first time in the second.

JBU responded, however, with a 10-2 run, retaking the lead at 55-49. The Golden Eagles led or were tied for the next five minutes before a 3-pointer by English gave the Hawks the 2-point lead, 63-61.

But again, the Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead for a short period of time. Another trey by English with 4:24 gave the Hawks the lead for good this time.

Klekas was also in double figures with 10 points. SDC shot 45.7 percent from the floor in the game and 9-of-20 behind the arc. The Golden Eagles shot just under 40 percent (39.3) and 6-of-19 from 3-point land.

SDC is back on the court tomorrow in the second day of The Master’s College Jersey Mike’s New Years Classic against Central Methodist University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.