Box Score SEARCY – Harding produced one of its best defensive efforts of the season Monday night in Gulf South Conference men’s basketball action, defeating Ouachita Baptist 70-64 at the Rhodes Field House. The Bisons forced 26 Tiger turnovers and limited OBU to only 25% shooting in the second half.
Harding (10-6, 2-4) snapped a three-game conference skid and improved to 10-0 when scoring 70 points or more.
The Bisons recorded a season-high 17 steals in the game, led by Ceso Sprewell’s five thefts. It was most steals by a Harding team since collecting 20 last season against Union (Ky.). The Bisons outscored the Tigers 26-16 off turnovers.
Ouachita Baptist (10-9, 2-4) shot 55% in the first half but led only 38-34 at halftime. Fourteen of OBU’s turnovers came before the break.
The Tigers extended their lead to six, 50-44, at the 13:18 mark on a pair of Brian Ross free throws. A minute later, Harding started an 11-0 run on a three-pointer by Lonnie Smith. Junior center Alassane Savadogo continued the streak by scoring Harding’s next eight points. The Bisons led the rest of the way, building the lead to as many as nine on another Smith three-pointer with 2:44 left.
Smith, who sat out much of the first half with an ankle injury, returned to score eight of his team-high 15 points in the second half. He hit two of his three three-pointers after the injury.
Savadogo was nearly unstoppable on the inside for the Bisons. The junior tied a career high with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Savadogo added six rebounds, including a team-high three offensive boards.
Sprewell was also in double figures with 11 points.
Senior guard Lucky Butler led OBU in scoring with 18 points. Brandon Dawson added 14.
Harding plays its second of three games in six days Thursday, traveling to Russellville to meet Arkansas Tech.
