Box Score
SEARCY – Senior Matt Hall scored 30 points to help lead the Harding Bisons to a 90-74 victory over the Delta State Statesmen at Rhodes Field House on Thursday night, marking the first year Harding has swept Delta State in Gulf South Conference play.
Harding (13-9, 7-2 GSC) remained tied with Ouachita Baptist for the GSC West lead. Delta State fell to 11-10 overall and 5-4 in conference.
Delta State led 11-4 early on a three-pointer by Eric Spencer, but Harding came back minutes later when junior Steven Barnett scored a layup to start a 20-3 run for the Bisons. Hall hit a three-pointer to cap the run and give Harding a 29-16 lead with 8:20 remaining in the first half.
Senior Chris Dixon scored 17 of his career-high 25 points in the first half, and the Bisons led 49-38 at halftime.
Harding continued to build its lead in the second half, stretching the lead to 19 points when sophomore Trent Morgan scored a pair of free throws to give the Bisons a 62-43 lead. Delta State briefly closed the lead to 10 points on a layup by Oliver Mansour with 7:08 left, but Harding quickly extended its lead again. Freshman Kevin Brown scored five consecutive points for the Bisons to give Harding an 88-63 lead.
Hall has scored 30 or more points in both meetings against Delta State. Earlier this season, Hall scored 37 points in Harding's 104-95 victory. It was the 10th time this season Hall has scored 20 or more points.
The Bisons, who had missed nine free throws in last week's 72-69 loss to Arkansas-Monticello, hit 32-of-38 free throws (84.2 percent) on Thursday while Delta State made 13-of-24 shots (54.2 percent). Hall, the all-time GSC free throw leader, hit 11-of-12 free throws.
Ernesto Green led Delta State with 14 points, and Eric Spencer added 10 points.
Harding will play Ouachita Baptist on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., beginning at 7 p.m.
