SEARCY – The 19th-ranked Harding men's basketball team will look to bounce back from its first Gulf South Conference loss Saturday when it hosts Henderson State at the Rhodes Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Bisons, who are playing their fourth game since last Saturday, have won six of their last eight meetings with the Reddies.
The game will be broadcast live in Searcy on KVHU-95.3 FM radio. Live audio, video and statistics will be available on HardingSports.com.
Harding suffered an 85-55 road loss to Arkansas Tech on Thursday and enters the game with a 15-3 overall record. The Bisons are 5-1 in GSC West play, ½-game behind Arkansas Tech for first place. Harding is ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA II South Region Rankings.
Despite Thursday's loss, the Bisons still rank near the top of the GSC in several statistical categories. Free throws have played a key role in Harding's early success. Harding has made 385 free throws, 19 more than the 366 free throw attempts by its opponents. The Bisons have made more free throws than their opponents in 15 of 18 games.
Harding currently has a four-game home winning streak and has won eight of nine games at the Rhodes Field House this season. Senior Kevin Brown is Harding's leading scorer in home games, averaging 15.4 points. The Bisons' average margin of victory at home this season is 15.9 points.
Defensively, Harding has held its opponents below 50 percent shooting in each of its last 17 games. LeMoyne-Owen was the only team to shoot better than 50 percent against Harding.
Henderson State enters the game 6-12 overall and 1-5 in conference play. The Reddies have lost two straight after collecting their first GSC victory 54-50 over Delta State, and they have lost seven of their last eight overall.
Josh French, a junior transfer from North Arkansas College, leads Henderson State in scoring at 15.0 points per game. He also averages a team-best 7.3 rebounds. Senior Lucas Whisenhunt averages 10.2 points.
Henderson State enters the game as the GSC's leading rebounding team. The Reddies average 7.6 more rebounds per game than their opponents. Henderson State is last in the GSC in free throw percentage (61.8), 3-point field goal percentage (26.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (0.7), and 3-point field goals made (3.8).
Harding and Henderson State are meeting for the 106th time. The Reddies lead the all-time series 71-34 overall and 29-21 in Searcy. Harding has won the last three meetings in Searcy. In addition to their regular-season meetings, Harding and Henderson State have played twice in the GSC Tournament (2003 and 2007) and once at the NCAA II National Tournament (2003).
