Box Score
SEARCY – Five players scored 10 or more points for the Harding Bisons in a 72-59 victory over the Henderson State Reddies in front of a capacity crowd of 3,000 fans at the Rhodes Field House on Saturday morning. The game was nationally broadcasted by CSTV.
Harding improved to 15-10 overall and a Gulf South Conference West-leading 9-3 as head coach Jeff Morgan earned with 250th career victory. Henderson State lost its fourth consecutive game and fell to 3-22 overall and 0-12 in conference.
Jerome Wilson hit a layup to give the Reddies a 19-17 lead, but freshman Kevin Brown tied the game with a layup on the next possession with 11:41 remaining in the first half. After a Henderson State turnover, senior Jesse Bynum scored a three-pointer to give Harding the lead for good 22-19.
Neither team scored in the final two minutes of the first half, and Harding led 34-29 at halftime.
Senior Matt Hall finished with 18 points, freshman Kevin Brown scored 14 points, senior Chris Dixon had 12 points, senior Jesse Bynum had 11 points and sophomore Trent Morgan had 10 points. It was the first time five players have scored 10 or more points in a game since Harding joined the GSC in 2000.
The Bisons continued to extend their lead in the second half, and led by as many as 23 point on a dunk by Brown, who gave Harding a 69-46 lead with 4:27 remaining. Brown also collected a career-high four steals.
Antoine Vinson hit 7-of-17 field goals and led Henderson State with 21 points, and no other player finished with at least 10 points. Harding outscored the Reddies' bench 28-16.
Harding committed only 11 turnovers against Henderson State, marking the 12th time Harding has picked up 20 or fewer turnovers in the last 15 games. The Bisons committed 30 turnovers in Thursday's 87-82 overtime loss to Arkansas Tech.
During halftime, Harding honored members of the 1957-58 basketball team, the first intercollegiate team Harding fielded after an 18-year hiatus from competition. Seven of the original 12 players attended the 50th anniversary ceremony.
The Bisons will conclude their home schedule with “Senior Night” on Thursday when they host Southern Arkansas at 7:30 p.m.
