Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. – The Rhodes Field House will look good to the Harding Bisons when the team returns for a match-up against Drury on Dec. 15, because almost nothing went right on the team’s two-game trip to Alabama.
Harding (6-3) shot a season-low 34 percent from the field and fell 71-57 to Alabama-Huntsville (6-2) on Saturday at Spragins Hall. The Bisons lost 79-68 to North Alabama on Thursday. Harding had defeated both teams at home earlier in the season.
The Bisons committed 15 fouls in the first half and the Chargers took full advantage by connecting on 18-of-21 free throws. Alabama-Huntsville, led by Jason Smith’s 17 points, led 41-29 at halftime. Smith made all 10 of his free throw attempts before the break.
Harding made only 1-of-10 three-point shots in the first half and shot 36 percent overall.
Smith continued his hot shooting in the second half and finished with a game-high 29 points. He also added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Harding shot only 32 percent after the break and continued to struggle from long range, making only 2-of-12 (17 percent) three-pointers. The Bisons made only 3-of-22 (14 percent) three-pointers on the night. Harding had made at least eight three-pointers in each of its first eight games.
Junior guard Rick Hamilton led Harding with 14 points. Freshman guard Trent Morgan was the only other Bison in double figure scoring with 10 points. Junior forward Matt Hall had a team-high eight rebounds but fouled out of the game after scoring a season-low five points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.
Harding is 5-0 at home this season, and the Drury game will be the Bisons’ final game at the Rhodes Field House before Gulf South Conference play begins.
