ADA, Okla. – East Central quarterback Tyler Vanderzee hit George Robbins on a 5-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Tigers a 23-16 victory over Harding on Saturday in Great American Conference play at Norris Field.

Harding (3-7, 2-3) had the second possession of overtime, but East Central stopped fullback Kale Gelles on a dive play on fourth down to give the Tigers their first win over Harding since 1995. The Bisons had won the last six straight over the Tigers, who played their third overtime this season.

Gelles, who led Harding with 90 rushing yards on 20 carries, sent the game into overtime with a one-yard touchdown run with 1:00 left in the game to tie it at 16-16. The score culminated a 17-play, 80-yard drive that lasted almost seven minutes. The touchdown was the 50th of the season for the Bisons, tying a school record set in 1972.

East Central (7-3, 5-2) had a chance to win the game in regulation. Tiger kick returner Dontae Smith, ranked second in Division II in kickoff returns entering the game, returned it to the Harding 23 with 48 seconds remaining. The Tigers ran three plays, but East Central kicker Brian Gonzalez missed a 31-yard field goal with 15 seconds left and Harding ran out the clock.

East Central took a 7-0 lead on Vanderzee's 19-yard pass to Chris Espinoza with 6:29 left in the first quarter. Harding answered with a 9-play, 69-yard drive, and junior quarterback Chaz Rogers scored his team-leading 11th touchdown from a yard out with 2:08 left. Eddy Carmona's extra point was blocked and Harding trailed 7-6.

In the second quarter, East Central's Chad Winbush scored on an 8-yard run to put the Tigers up 13-6 with 10:01 left in the half. Gonzalez missed the extra point.

It looked like that would be the halftime score after Harding senior Luke Tribble intercepted a pass in the end zone with 38 seconds remaining. But Harding moved the ball 35 yards on five plays, and Carmona kicked a 62-yard field goal with the wind to cut the lead to 13-9 at halftime.

The field goal was the longest ever by a Harding player, breaking the record of 54 yards set by Brent Goodwin twice in 1990. Carmona became the first Bison with three field goals of 50 yards or more in a season. The NCAA Division II record is 67 yards.

After a scoreless third quarter, ECU's Gonzalez kicked a 33-yard field goal with 7:57 left in the game to put the Tigers ahead 16-9 and set up Harding's game-tying drive.

Harding entered the game as Division II's leader in rushing offense at 384.1 yards per game. The Bisons carried 68 times for 308 yards, their seventh game this season with 300 or more rushing yards.

Harding outgained East Central 348-335. The Tigers had 146 rushing yards and completed 19-of-34 passes for 189 yards.

Harding concludes the 2011 season next Saturday at home against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Kickoff on Senior Day at First Security Stadium is at 2 p.m.