Box Score FLORENCE, ALA. – For the second straight game, Harding lost a halftime lead early in the second period. But Monday against North Alabama, Bison senior Lonnie Smith pulled Harding back by scoring 20 of his team-high 27 points after the break and leading his squad to an 86-78 win at Flowers Hall.
Harding (2-1) split its two-game Alabama road trip with the victory Monday. Saturday, Harding led Alabama-Huntsville at the break but could not overcome a 20-3 UAH run to start the second half and dropped its first game of the season.
Smith had only seven points in the first half against North Alabama, but hit a jumper with 15:29 left to put Harding ahead for good. The Lions had rallied to tie the game at 51 on a pair of free throws by Reprobatus Bibbs. Harding led 46-39 at the break and Smith hit a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half to put the Bisons up by 10. UNA answered with a 12-2 run to tie the game.
North Alabama (2-2) closed to within one or two points several times later in the second half, but Smith always had an answer. The Lions made two free throws to cut the lead to 71-69 with 5:33 left, but Smith hit two free throws to move the lead back to four. A layup by Milton Nance with 2:04 left trimmed HU’s lead to 77-75, but Smith hit two consecutive baskets and Harding led the rest of the way.
Smith, who had 27 points for the second time in three games, hit 10-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-7 from three-point range.
Senior Brandon Sims earned his first start of the season for the Bisons and responded with 16 points, 14 coming in the first half. Cole Kee (13 points) and Patrick Andrepont (12 points) were also in double figures for Harding. Andrepont led the Bisons with nine rebounds and five assists. Forward A.J. Gordon led North Alabama with 24 points.
Harding continued its hot shooting from three-point range, connecting on 10-of-22 (45%). The Bisons have made 34 three-pointers in the season’s first three games. Conversely, North Alabama struggled from long range, shooting only 3-of-16 (19%).
Harding will have a chance to redeem Saturday’s loss against Alabama-Huntsville in its next outing. The Bisons take on the Chargers again on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at the Rhodes Field House in Searcy.
