Box Score
SEARCY – Harding junior Matt Hall scored 22 points and the Bisons connected on 10 three-pointers in a 68-55 victory over Alabama-Huntsville on Monday at the Rhodes Field House. The Bisons have now won their last 31 straight home openers dating back to 1975.
Harding, ranked 21st nationally in NCAA II, improved to 2-1 overall and won its third straight against Alabama-Huntsville (4-2) in Searcy. The two teams will meet again in Huntsville on Dec. 9.
Hall shot 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line. He also led the team with eight rebounds.
Both teams struggled from the field in the first half. Harding shot 22 three-pointers before the break and only 14 two-pointers. The Bisons were 12-of-36 (33 percent) with six of those coming from long range. UAH shot only 38 percent in the half.
The Chargers scored the first seven points of the game and led 9-2 at the 15:32 mark. Harding then went on a 20-2 scoring run and led the rest of the way. The Bisons shot 52 percent in the second half and led by as many as 17 points.
Harding shot 10-of-35 from three-point range, only one off the school record for three-point attempts in a game.
UAH never could find the distance from three-point range. The Chargers averaged 9.8 three-pointers per game but hit only 4-of-20 against the Bisons.
Alabama-Huntsville’s Jason Smith, a preseason All-America selection, led the Chargers with 15 points but shot only 3-of-11 from the field.
Three other players scored 10 or more points for Harding. Junior Rick Hamilton scored 12 on 5-of-9 shooting. Senior Brandon Sims scored 11 and dished out a career-high five assists. Patrick Andrepont had 10.
Harding plays the second game of a five-game homestand Tuesday night against Ecclesia. Tip-off at the Rhodes Field House is at 7:30 p.m.
