Box Score
SEARCY – The Harding Bisons opened their season by hitting a school-record tying 17 three-point field goals in a 102-77 blowout of Missouri-Rolla, Saturday at the Rhodes Field House. The win tainted however by the loss of junior Matt Hall to an injury midway through the first half.
Harding (1-0) won its 30th straight home opener, dating back to 1975, by punishing the Miners from the outside. The Bisons made 11-of-17 from three-point range in the first half, including six from senior Lonnie Smith. Harding added six more in the second period with Smith hitting the record-tying 17th with 3:08 left in the game.
Smith finished with 27 points and added four assists and a career-high five steals. The Hughes, Ark., native was 7-of-12 from three-point range, only one off the Harding individual record.
With just over seven minutes left in the first half, Hall caught the ball in the post and made a move into the lane. He went down in pain, holding his knee following a jump stop and was treated by Harding athletic trainer Ronnie Harlow. He returned to the team’s bench in the second half with a brace on the knee. Last season, Hall was the Gulf South Conference West Division and Daktronics South Region Player of the Year, averaging 21.1 points per game.
Harding’s 36 three-point attempts also tied a school record. The previous record for three-pointers made (17) came against Philander Smith on Dec. 10, 1992. Harding also shot 36 three-pointers on Nov. 27, 2000, against Central Oklahoma.
The Bisons never trailed in the game and led 56-35 at halftime.
Missouri-Rolla (1-2) had three players in double figures, led by Tyrone Davidson with 14.
Harding returns to the court Monday with a 7 p.m. road game against Alabama-Huntsville.
