Box Score SEARCY – Harding made a season-high 13 three-pointers remained perfect in Gulf South Conference play with an 88-80 victory over Delta State on Saturday at the Rhodes Field House.
Senior Stephen Blake made 5-of-7 from three-point range and led the Bisons with 22 points. He has made 12 three-pointers in Harding's last two games. The Bisons had five players with 10 or more points for the first time this season.
With the victory, Harding improved to 13-2 on the season, tying the 1995-96 team for the best 15-game start in program history. Arkansas Tech is the only other GSC West Division team with a perfect 3-0 conference record.
Delta State (8-8, 2-1) led 21-19 with 12:01 left in the first half, but Harding freshman Hayden Johnson made a three-pointer to start an 18-5 Bison run over the next five minutes. Harding made three three-pointers during the run and had nine in the first half and led 47-39 at halftime.
Delta State closed to within five at 58-53 with 16:08 left in the second half, but Harding scored the next nine points and led by at least seven the rest of the way.
Phil Turner had 25 points for Delta State, and Chris Poellnitz added 21.
Harding shot better from three-point range (54.2 percent) than it did from the free throw line (17-of-36, 47.2 percent).
The Bisons shot 53 percent overall and limited the Statesmen to 47 percent. It was the eighth time this season Harding shot 50 percent or better. The Bisons have held 14 straight opponents below 50 percent.
Harding freshman Weston Jameson, who scored four points, had a career-high 11 rebounds and led the team with five assists.
Harding is back in action Thursday at the Rhodes Field House against Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. A victory would give the Bisons their best 16-game start in program history and mark the first time since 2004 that Harding begin GSC play 4-0.
