Box Score
ROLLA, MO. – Harding junior guard Reggie Bibb scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Bisons to a 72-63 win over Missouri-Rolla, Monday at the Bullman Multi-Purpose Building. It was Harding’s second win over UMR this season and came after a 22-day layoff for the Christmas holidays.
In the first meeting, the Bisons connected on a school-record tying 17 three-point field goals in a 100-77 win in Searcy. Harding made a season-low two three-pointers Monday but outscored Missouri-Rolla 28-17 at the free throw line.
Harding, which has won seven of its last eight games, improved to 8-2 overall. The Bisons begin Gulf South Conference play Saturday, hosting preseason conference favorite Delta State at 8 p.m.
Missouri-Rolla lost its sixth straight game and fell to 2-9. The Miners last win came on Nov. 28 when they defeated Central Bible.
The game was tied four times early in the second half, and Harding led only 52-50 with 6:22 left. The Bisons then went on an 8-1 run over the next minute and a half. Bibb and Lonnie Smith each hit a pair of free throws and Jesse Bynum and Ceso Sprewell each hit jumpers during the spurt. Harding led by at least four the rest of the way.
Bibb, who had not scored in double figures in the season’s first nine games, hit 10-of-12 from the foul line and dished out a team-high three assists. Smith added 14 points and connected on all six of his free throws to run his streak to 31 consecutive. He missed both of his three-point attempts and went without a three-pointer for only the second time in his 39-game Harding career.
Sprewell, who made his season debut after sitting out the fall for academic reasons, scored 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Patrick Andrepont added 11 for Harding.
Junior forward Tyrone Davidson led Missouri-Rolla with 22 points and nine rebounds. The Miners fell to 0-6 when they score fewer than 70 points.
