Bench combines for 54 points in Harding win

By Amanda Pruitt

Senior Steven Barnett has scored more than 15 points in nine games this season.

Box Score SEARCY — Senior Steven Barnett scored 14 of his team-leading 18 points in the second half as Harding surged past Arkansas Tech after halftime for a 94-67 victory at the Rhodes Field House on Saturday night.

The Harding Bisons (15-8, 5-5 Gulf South Conference) lost their first matchup earlier this season against the Wonder Boys 82-66, but the Bisons were abled to outscore Arkansas Tech by 25 points in the second half Saturday to even the record.

Arkansas Tech (16-7, 6-4) entered the game leading the conference in field goal percentage with 50.3 percent, but the Wonder Boys made only 20 of 66 shots (30.3 percent). Arkansas Tech struggled to score especially in the second half, making only 7 of 38 shots (18.4 percent).

“In the second half, I'm proud of the way we defended and hit the boards,” Harding coach Jeff Morgan said. “We were forcing them to make some tough shots.”

The Wonder Boys led by as many as seven points early in the game, but Harding tied the game on a layup by sophomore Matt Ragsdale. Sophomore Sam Brown hit a three-pointer to give Harding the lead for good 23-20.

Harding led at halftime 42-40.

Harding's bench players paved the way for the victory, outscoring Arkansas Tech's bench 54-23. Three of Harding's starters played less than 20 minutes. In 16 minutes, junior Trent Morgan scored 11 points, and sophomore Kevin Brown had six rebounds and three blocks in 15 minutes.

The bench was led by redshirt freshman Kirk Porter, who scored a career-high 17 points, 11 of them coming after halftime. Sophomore Stephen Blake scored 15 points, and Ragsdale had 14 points and a team-leading 8 rebounds.

“Kurt, just looking at what he's done during the conference season, his production has gone way up,” Morgan said. “When we needed something inside, he got it to the basket.”

Chad Henderson was the only player for Arkansas Tech to score more than 10 points, finishing with a game-high 28 points. Irvin Humphrey had 10 rebounds.

Harding will host Christian Brothers on Thursday at the Rhodes Field House, beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m.

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