Harding Game Notes

SEARCY – After an amazing road trip that saw Harding men's basketball defeat Division I ULM and Alabama-Huntsville, the No. 2-ranked team in Division II, the Bisons return to the Rhodes Field House for their home opener against Champion Baptist. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

Home openers have been friendly to Harding. The Bisons have won 35 consecutive home openers dating to a loss to Lambuth in 1975. Harding defeated Lambuth 82-69 in its home opener last season.

The Bisons enter the game 2-1 overall, while Champion Baptist, a member of the Association of Christian Colleges of America located in Hot Springs, Ark., enters the game 5-8.

Harding has won its last two games. Junior DeAntra Scott led the Bisons with 24 points in its 71-68 win over ULM, Harding's first in 11 games against Division I opponents since joining the NCAA in 1997. Sophomore Weston Jameson scored a career-high 20 points and junior Zach Roddenberry added a career-high 15 points in Harding's 65-63 upset of Alabama-Huntsville.

Harding and Champion Baptist have played six previous times, all Bison victories. Harding won last season 90-33, the fewest points ever allowed by a Bison team.

Harding will have a guest in the stands tomorrow. Stan Beck, an author from the Atlanta area, will be in attendance to witness the acapella singing of the national anthem by the fans at the Rhodes Field House. He will include the occasion in a book he is writing about college sports traditions.

The tradition began in the fall of 2005 when the Rhodes Rowdies joined in with Harding professors Dee Carson and Kay Gowen as they sang the anthem. The fans have sung the Star-Spangled Banner ever since.

The game with Champion Baptist is the first of four straight home games for Harding. The Bisons host Central Baptist on Dec. 3, Christian Brothers on Dec. 6, and Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 10.