SEARCY – The Harding men's basketball team will close out 2009 with three road games in four days beginning with Saturday's Gulf South Conference cross-over matchup with Alabama-Huntsville at 4 p.m. The Bisons then meet North Alabama in Florence on Monday at 6 p.m., and battle NCAA Division I foe Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Jeff Morgan, who is in his 18th season as a head coach and 17th season as head coach of the Bisons. Morgan has a 296-193 career record and a 279-183 record at Harding.
Lennie Acuff is in his 13th season at Alabama-Huntsville and has a 207-137 record. He is 322-251 in his 20th season as a head coach.
Bobby Champagne is in his seventh season at North Alabama and has a 109-78 record.
Orlando Early is in his fifth season at Louisiana-Monroe and has a 51-80 record.
THE BISONS: Harding enters the weekend with a 6-2 overall record and a 2-1 mark on the road. The Bisons have a two-game winning streak, including a 97-76 victory over Central Baptist in its last outing on Dec. 12 in Searcy.
Harding's top player in the last two games has been sophomore Kirk Porter, who scored a career-high 23 points at St. Edward's and added 13 points vs. Central Baptist. Porter is Harding's leading scorer at 10.6 points per game.
Harding has four players averaging 10 points per game or more, and junior Sam Brown is just off that mark at 9.9 points per game.
Harding's Matt Garner and Sam Brown have both connected on 16-of-31 three-point attempts this season, 51.6 percent.
The Bisons leaders by statistical category: scoring (Kirk Porter, 10.6); rebounding (Kevin Brown, 7.0); assists (Trent Morgan, 3.4).
THE CHARGERS: Alabama-Huntsville is a member of the Gulf South Conference East Division. The Chargers enter the game with Harding with a 6-3 overall record and a 4-0 mark at home.
The Chargers are led in scoring by Cody Jones, who averaged 12.1 points per game.
Alabama-Huntsville has made 146 free throws through nine games, while Charger opponents have shot only 151 free throws.
THE LIONS: North Alabama enters the weekend 5-4 overall and 3-1 at home. UNA has won its last two games.
North Alabama is led in scoring by Jared Strode, the GSC's leading scorer at 22.3 points per game.
The Lions are one of the top offensive teams in the GSC, averaging 79.0 points per game. UNA is 13th in the conference in rebounding margin (-4.1).
THE WARHAWKS: Louisiana-Monroe is a member of the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference and has a 3-7 overall record. The Warhawks have lost their last five entering the weekend.
ULM is led in scoring by Lawrence Gilbert (12.5 ppg) and Tony Hooper (12.0 ppg).
The Warhawks are shooting nearly 40 percent (39.2) from three-point range but are averaging 19.2 turnovers per game.
THE SERIES: Harding holds a 7-5 lead in the all-time series with Alabama-Huntsville and has won the last two. UAH holds a 4-2 lead in games played in Huntsville.
Harding holds a 6-3 overall lead against North Alabama. UNA has won the last three meetings in Florence.
Harding and Louisiana-Monroe are meeting for the first time since 1967 when ULM (then Northeastern Louisiana) defeated Harding 103-85 at the AIC Christmas Tournament in Magnolia, Ark. In the game, Harding's George Frazier led the Bisons with 31 points.
