Box Score Box Score
SEARCY - Harding senior guard Stephen Blake continued his recent scoring spree with a career-high 34 points and the 17th-ranked Bisons defeated Southern Arkansas 97-79 on Monday at the Rhodes Field House.
Harding led 41-39 at halftime but shot 63 percent and scored 56 points in the second half to pull away. The Bisons improved to 19-3 overall and 9-1 in Gulf South Conference West Division play, its first 19-win season since 2002-03 when the Bisons won 21 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Blake connected on five 3-pointers and made 13-of-14 from the free throw line. He has scored 87 points in Harding's last three games. The GSC's leader in 3-point field goal percentage, Blake has made 17-of-25 3-pointers during the stretch.
Junior Kirk Porter scored 22 points and added nine rebounds. Porter scored 14 of his points in the first half, as Harding's other starting forward Kevin Brown played just six minutes due to foul trouble.
Channin Harden and David Noble both had 23 points for Southern Arkansas (9-13, 1-9). The Muleriders have lost six straight and 10 of their last 11.
Harding trailed 47-45 with 17:09 left after Noble hit a jumper. Blake then scored Harding's next 10 points, and the Bisons led by at least seven points the rest of the way.
Harding's largest lead of the game came at the 4:04 mark of the second half when Kevin Brown's free throws put the Bisons ahead 89-64. The 97 points were the most by Harding in a game this season. The previous high came in a 90-33 victory over Champion Baptist.
Harding remained one game behind Arkansas Tech in the GSC West standings. The Wonder Boys defeated Christian Brothers 67-52 in Russellville and remained undefeated at 10-0 in conference play.
Monday's game was the second of four games for the Bisons this week. It was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was postponed due to snow. Harding continues the tough stretch Thursday on the road against Arkansas-Monticello.
Harding won the first meeting between the schools 80-75 in overtime on Jan. 24 in Searcy.
