Box Score

SEARCY — Sophomore Kevin Brown scored a team-high 23 points as the Harding Bisons overcame a sluggish start to earn a 96-85 victory over Texas College at the Rhodes Field House on Monday. The victory was Harding's 12th consecutive at home.

Brown hit 9 of 11 field goals and 5 of 7 free throws while leading the team with 13 rebounds. Senior Stephen Barnett finished with 18 points and 10 assists.

Harding (10-3) struggled to score in the first half, hitting just 13 of 38 shots (34.4 percent) and missing 10 of its first 11 three-pointers. Harding fell behind 29-21 when Czyz Bennett hit a layup for Texas College (3-8) with 7:02 remaining in the half.

“I thought we were pretty lackluster in our efforts,” Harding coach Jeff Morgan said. Defensively, we weren't as active as we have been in the past. It's what we've been hanging our hats on. If we're not doing it, we're not any good as a team.”

Harding rallied in the final minutes of the half, however. Sophomore Matt Ragsdale hit a jumper to tie the game 38-38, and he added a second basket during the Bisons' next possession to give Harding a 40-38 lead with 41 seconds left.

Fifty-two fouls were called in the game, and the two teams shot a combined 88 free throws. The Bisons made 37 of 50 free throws (74.0 percent), while Texas College shot only 33 free throws, making 21 of them (63.6 percent). The 37 free throws was the eighth most in school history, and the most made since the Bisons hit 44 against Arkansas-Monticello in 2001.

The Bisons did not take many free throws in last week's loss 98-92 to North Alabama, making 10 of 16 shots.

“That's something we've done real well all year long, except for that North Alabama game,” Morgan said. “We did a better job tonight at being aggressive and driving to the basket.”

Junior Trent Morgan finished with 15 points for Harding. Sophomore Sam Brown scored a career-high 12 points, and redshirt freshman Kirk Porter also scored 12 points.

Marshal Taylor and Sadiki Guerra each scored 18 points to lead Texas College.

Harding will open Gulf South Conference play Saturday against Henderson State in Arkandelphia, Ark., beginning at 5 p.m.