SEARCY – The Harding men's basketball team got a taste of Great American Conference play Saturday with a victory over Southern Arkansas and now goes on the road for its next three conference games.
Harding will open the road trip Thursday against East Central in Ada, Okla. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Kerr Dome. The game will air live on KVHU 95.3-FM radio in Searcy, and live audio will be available on HardingSports.com.
Harding shot 52 percent from the field and made nine 3-pointers in its 90-76 victory over Southern Arkansas, its 10th consecutive over the Muleriders in Searcy. Junior Bradley Spencer scored a career-high 29 points as the Bisons moved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference. Junior Zach Roddenberry, who leads Division II in field goal percentage, made 7-of-8 shots, scored 21 points, and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds.
The Bisons are one of four teams that escaped the first week of GAC play unbeaten. Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State are all 2-0 with Harding at 1-0.
Harding, who has won two straight, will take on an East Central squad that has struggled of late. The Tigers are 3-9 overall and have lost both GAC games. East Central lost at Ouachita Baptist (87-74) and at Henderson State (81-65). The Tigers have lost three straight overall and are winless in four home games this season.
Caprest Rhone, a senior guard from Ft. Eutis, Va., leads East Central with 13.2 points per game. He is in his second season with the Tigers after transferring from Cowley County Community College in Kansas.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since 2001, when both schools were members of the Lone Star Conference. East Central leads the all-time series 6-4 overall and 3-1 in Ada. Harding's lone road win over East Central was a 110-108 victory in 1998.
Harding will depart for Ada on Wednesday morning and will arrive early evening. The Bisons will remain in Ada after Thursday's game and will continue the trip to Weatherford, Okla., on Friday. Harding meets Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Weatherford.
