Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Harding University junior guard Trent Morgan connected on a 3-pointer with just under eight seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Bisons to a stunning 75-74 upset of 12th-ranked Christian Brothers on Thursday night in Gulf South Conference action at Canale Arena.
It was not the only key 3-pointer on the night for Morgan. He drilled another a few minutes earlier as time expired in regulation to send the game to overtime.
The victory for Harding (12-5, 2-2) snapped Christian Brothers' eight-game overall winning streak and a 15-game winning streak at Canale Arena. It was the Bisons' second of three games against nationally-ranked teams. Harding fell to 22nd-ranked Arkansas Tech last Saturday and hosts 19th-ranked Arkansas-Monticello at the Rhodes Field House this Saturday.
“I was just so proud of our players,” said Harding coach Jeff Morgan. “I thought we did a couple of things really well—we kept our poise and we just kept battling. I though tonight was the first time in a while that we played with great focus for 40 minutes. I mean 45 minutes.”
Morgan connected on five 3-pointers in the game and led the Bisons with 21 points. Sophomore forward Kevin Brown scored 18 points, and sophomore Stephen Blake came off the bench to score 10.
Christian Brothers (14-3, 3-1) got a game-high 26 points from the GSC's leading scorer Nick Kohs. Senior guard Reggie Peyton had 22 points, hitting all 11 of his free throws, but missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Peyton made two free throws with 11 seconds left to play in regulation to give Christian Brothers a 69-66 lead. Harding moved the ball quickly down the floor, and Steven Barnett found Morgan at the top of the key for the game-tying 3-pointer. It was Harding's first field goal since the 4:12 mark of the second half.
In overtime, the Bucs again pulled out to a lead. Scott Dennis made a layup with 2:14 left that put Christian Brothers ahead 74-70. Blake answered with a jumper on the baseline to cut the lead to two with 1:50 remaining. Christian Brothers turned over their next possession, but Harding could not take advantage, missing a pair of free throws and a layup before the Bucs regained the ball.
With 36 seconds remaining, Christian Brothers' Connor Wetzel threw an errant in-bounds pass that Morgan deflected off a CBU player, giving Harding the ball back. Again Barnett found Morgan at the top of the key, this time for the game-winner.
“Trent did a great job of stepping up and hitting big shots,” said Morgan. “Steven did a great job of finding him twice.”
Morgan had been in a mini shooting slump, connecting on less than 35 percent of his shots over the last nine games, but Thursday he made 8-of-14 overall and 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
Harding, ranked 16th nationally in 3-point field goal defense, limited Christian Brothers to only 6-of-21 shooting (28.6%) from beyond the arc.
