Harding Game Notes
SEARCY – Harding can match its best 15-game start in program history and open Gulf South Conference play with three straight wins for only the third time Saturday when it hosts Delta State at the Rhodes Field House. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.
Harding is 12-2 overall and 2-0 in conference action following a 72-58 victory over Southern Arkansas on Thursday in Magnolia. The 1995-96 Bisons started that season 13-2 overall, Harding's current best 15-game start. The Bisons started the 2003 and 2008 GSC seasons with three straight wins.
The game will be broadcast live in Searcy on KVHU-95.3 FM radio and on White County Cable Channel 16. Live video, audio and statistics will be available on HardingSports.com.
Harding's
Jeff Morgan collected his 300th victory as the Bisons' head coach with the win over Southern Arkansas. He has more victories than any other Harding basketball coach.
Harding senior guard
Stephen Blake tied his career high with 25 points against Southern Arkansas. He connected on a career-high seven three-pointers. Blake currently leads the GSC in both free throw percentage (86.6) and three-point field goal percentage (56.0).
The Bisons have won three straight games and nine of their last 10 overall. The Bisons are 6-1 at home.
With four assists against Southern Arkansas, Harding freshman
Weston Jameson took over the team lead with 33 assists on the season. He is averaging 2.36 assists per game.
Harding shot 53.2 percent from the field against Southern Arkansas. It was the Bisons' second-best shooting effort of the season and the third time in the last five games that Harding has shot 50 percent or better from the field. The Bisons have made 50 percent or more seven times this season, and limited their opponents to less than 50 percent from the field in 13 straight games.
Delta State enters the game 8-7 overall and 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. The Statesmen have won their last three games, their longest winning streak of the season. Delta State has played eight straight home games and has not played on the road since an 85-77 victory at West Alabama on Dec. 2.
Senior guard Phil Turner, a transfer from Mississippi State, leads the Statesmen in scoring with 15.3 points per game. He also ranked 11th nationally in steals in the last NCAA rankings. He averages 2.92 steals per game. Senior forward Jamarkus Holt, a transfer from Alcorn State, leads the team and ranks 17th nationally with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Delta State's assist leader is freshman Jay Murphy, native of Jackson, Miss., who averages 4.1 assists per game, fifth-best in the GSC.
Harding and Delta State are meeting for the 22nd time, all as members of the Gulf South Conference. The Statesmen lead the all-time series 14-7, but the Bisons hold a 6-4 advantage in Searcy. Harding won the second meeting last season, 100-88 in Searcy, snapping a three-game winning streak by Delta State.
