Box Score

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Harding University men's basketball team is headed to the Gulf South Conference Tournament championship game after defeating Valdosta State 89-84 in the semifinals Saturday at the DeSoto Civic Center. It is the first time the Bisons have ever played for the GSC championship.

Harding (18-11) overcame a strong shooting effort by Valdosta State (18-11) and sealed the win with its best free throw shooting effort of the seaon.

Bison senior Matt Hall led all scorers with 35 points. The forward from DeQueen, Ark., connected on 11-of-20 shots from the field and made all eight of his free throw attempts. With the 57 points in the first two games of the tournament, Hall moved into second place in career scoring in GSC history with 2,183 points.

Harding trailed 49-47 at halftime and remained behind until a Steven Barnett steal that led to a three-point play. Barnett's hustle gave the Bisons a 77-75 advantage with 6:50 left. Harding built the lead to six, but Valdosta State closed to within one on a pair of Ricky Coleman free throws with 58 seconds left.

Hall then hit a jumper, Barnett knocked down two free throws and Hall closed out the victory with two more free throws. In his last five games, Hall has made 40-of-43 free throws.

As a team, Harding sank 24-of-27 free throws for a season-best 88.9 percent. Valdosta State made only 3-of-8 free throws in the second half and 14-of-21 for the game.

Valdosta State point guard Stephan Walton, who averaged only 3.4 points per game during the regular season, scored 21 points for the second straight game. Senior Devario Hudson added 20 points but shot only 4-of-16 from three-point range.

The Blazers entered the game averaging more than eight rebounds per game more than their opponents, but the Bisons outrebounded them 44-34. Harding had 17 offensive rebounds, tying its second-best total of the season. The Bisons outscored the Blazers 22-12 on second-chance points.

Barnett scored 15 points for the Bisons and Chris Dixon added 11. Jesse Bynum led the Bisons with nine rebounds, including six offensive.

The victory all but assured Harding a place in the NCAA Tournament. Harding entered the conference tournament ranked No. 7 in the NCAA II South Region poll. The NCAA will announce its tournament field Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. The Harding administration is hosting a watch party in the Hammons Student Center beginning at 9 p.m.