Harding Game Notes

SEARCY - The Harding Bisons will play their first nationally-ranked team of the season when they host No. 2-ranked Arkansas Tech on Saturday at the Rhodes Field House.

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 298-197 career record and a 281-187 record at Harding.

Mark Downey is in his fourth season as head coach at Arkansas Tech and has a 62-41 record.

THE BISONS: Harding is one of four GSC West teams with a 1-1 conference record and are looking to move to 7-1 at home this season.

Harding has two players currently leading the GSC in a statistical category. Junior Stephen Blake is the conference's leading free throw shooter at 88.9 percent. Senior Trent Morgan leads the GSC with 2.00 steals per game.

Harding is third in the GSC in rebounding margin at +5.7 rebounds per game. The Bisons have outrebounded their opponents in four of the last five games by a margin of +45 rebounds.

In Harding's eight victories this season, the Bisons have made 41.2 percent of their three-pointers (61-of-148). In its six losses, Harding has made 24.1 percent (27-of-112).

Harding's Jeff Morgan is in his 18th season as a head coach and is just two wins short of 300 in his career.

Harding has a 9-19 record against nationally-ranked teams since joining the NCAA in 1997. The Bisons are 3-7 at home against nationally-ranked teams during that time. The highest-ranked team Harding has ever defeated was No. 2-ranked Montevallo during the 2004-05 season.

Harding played seven nationally-ranked teams last season, the most during the NCAA era. The Bisons had three wins against nationally-ranked teams (vs. #15 North Alabama, at #12 Christian Brothers and vs. #12 Christian Brothers).

THE WONDER BOYS: Arkansas Tech is a member of the GSC West Division and is located in Russellville, Ark. (pop. 27,602). The Wonder Boys were picked second in the GSC West in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Arkansas Tech is ranked first in NCAA Division II in turnover margin, averaging 7.8 turnovers per game fewer than their opponents. They also rank second in the nation in scoring margin (+26.4) and seventh nationally in scoring defense (56.9).

Brandon Friedel, a 6-foot-3 junior guard from Victoria, Texas leads Arkansas Tech in scoring at 16.4 points per game. He is the GSC's leader with 48 three-pointers made and ranks second in the conference in three-point percentage (50.0). Junior forward James Causey is tied for the GSC lead with 2.00 steals per game.

Arkansas Tech leads the GSC in scoring defense (57.5), scoring margin (26.1), rebound margin (8.5), assist average (17.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4) and steals (11.2).

THE SERIES: Harding and Arkansas Tech are meeting for the 106th time with the Wonder Boys leading the series 53-52. Harding holds a 30-19 advantage in games played in Searcy. The Bisons have won 12 of the last 13 meetings in Searcy, including a 94-67 win last season.