Box Score
SEARCY – It took 50 years and more than 1,400 games, but Harding finally earned its first conference basketball title, defeating the Southern Arkansas Muleriders 73-70 to clinch at least a share of the Gulf South Conference West title Thursday night.
Senior Matt Hall, in his final home game at the Rhodes Field House, scored 27 points and helped the Harding Bisons rally in the final minutes to reclaim the lead. After the game, Hall's No. 30 jersey was retired as he became only the second Bison to be honored in such a way. Three-time All American Butch Gardner (1974-77) had his No. 20 jersey retired.
In the second half, the game was tied five times and the lead changed hands seven times. Justin Stuart scored a layup to give Southern Arkansas a 62-61 lead with 6:55 remaining. Thirty seconds later, Hall made two free throws as Harding retook the lead for good 63-62.
Channin Harding hit a three-pointer to close Harding's lead to 72-70 with 13 seconds left, but senior Jesse Bynum scored a free throw to put the Bisons back ahead by three points.
Hall, the Harding and GSC career free throw leader, made 14-of-14 free throws, eight of them coming in the second half. His 14 free throws broke the Harding single-game record for free throws made without a miss. The old record was 12 by Aaron Farley against Central Baptist in 2001.
Sophomore Trent Morgan scored 13 points, and freshman Keven Brown scored six points and collected five rebounds before fouling out.
Southern Arkansas hit 8-of-12 three-pointer in the first half and led by as many as eight points when Brandon Williams scored a three-pointer. Southern Arkansas led 42-38 at halftime.
Channin Hardin led the Muleriders with 18 points. Williams scored 15 points, and Cory Green added 12 points for Southern Arkansas.
