Box Score

SEARCY - Kevin Brown and Sam Brown both scored 21 points and Harding shot 51 percent from the field in a 94-54 victory over Henderson State on Saturday at the Rhodes Field House. It was the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams.

The 40-point margin of victory was Harding's second-largest in a GSC game, one point shy of the Bisons' 105-64 victory over Christian Brothers in 2001. It was also the largest by Harding in 104 games against Henderson State. The previous high was a 102-72 victory in 1997.

Harding (8-5, 1-0) went on a 17-0 run over an eight-minute stretch of the first half, extending a 22-10 lead to 39-10 with 6:46 left. The Bisons led 54-21 at the break, its largest halftime lead of the season. Harding extended the lead to as many as 46 points in the second half when Sam Brown connected on a three-pointer with just over two minutes left that put Harding ahead 94-48.

Henderson State (7-7, 0-1) entered the game as the GSC leader in field goal percentage, but shot only 24 percent in the first half and 36 percent for the game.

Junior Tommy Tillman led the Reddies with 15 points. Harding held Henderson State senior Lance Smith, who averaged 19.0 points and 13.2 rebounds per game, to only 11 points and 10 rebounds. Smith shot 5-of-13 from the field and 1-of-7 from the free throw line.

Harding outrebounded Henderson State 46-25. Kevin Brown led the Bisons with eight.

Kevin Brown connected on 6-of-9 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. It was his fourth game with 20 or more points this season and the ninth of his career. Sam Brown tied a career-high in scoring, hitting 7-of-11 from the field. It was his second 20-point game this season.'

Matt Garner added 12 points off the bench and Matt Ragsdale had 10. Senior Trent Morgan had only three points, but added five rebounds, four assists, a career-high four blocks and two steals. With the two steals he moved past former teammate Steven Barnett into third place in career steals at Harding with 160.

Harding outscored Henderson State 46-24 in the paint and 24-6 off turnovers.

The Bisons have won their last two games by a combined 93 points.

Harding plays its first GSC road game of the season Thursday against Southern Arkansas in Magnolia.