Box Score

SEARCY – Harding junior Stephen Blake scored a career-high 22 points, and junior Kevin Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but the Bisons fell 82-71 to Arkansas Tech, the No. 2-ranked team in NCAA Division II, 82-71 on Saturday in Gulf South Conference action at the Rhodes Field House.

Arkansas Tech (16-0, 3-0) was led by senior Brandon Friedel with 21 points and junior Jeremy Dunbar with 18.

Arkansas Tech led by as many as eight points in the first half, but Harding (8-7, 1-2) scored the last four points of the half and trailed 42-38 at halftime.

Harding senior Trent Morgan scored the first basket of the second half, but Arkansas Tech then reeled off the next six points and led by at least five the rest of the way.

Blake connected on 6-of-9 from the field, making all four of his three-point attempts. He was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line and is shooting a GSC-leading 90.2 percent from the foul line this season.

Brown recorded Harding's first double-double of the season and the eighth of his career. He had six of Harding's 13 offensive rebounds and added three blocked shots.

Harding returns to the Rhodes Field House on Thursday to host Christian Brothers at 7:30 p.m.