RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Two teams one game behind the leaders of the Great American Conference will meet Monday as Arkansas Tech hosts Harding at Tucker Coliseum for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Both the Wonder Boys and the Bisons are 3-2 in conference play, with leaders Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State all tied at 4-1.
The game will air live in Searcy on KVHU 95.3-FM with Billy Morgan and Scott Goode on the call. Live audio and live statistics will be available on HardingSports.com.
Harding is 8-7 overall and is coming off a 73-53 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday. It will be the Bisons' third of five games in a 10-day period. Senior Kirk Porter came off the bench to lead Harding with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. The Bisons shot 63 percent in the second half and outscored the Savage Storm by 18 points after leading only 29-27 at halftime. SOSU's 53 points were the fewest by a Harding opponent this season.
Harding continues to be led in scoring by junior Zach Roddenberry, who had 14 points against Southeastern Oklahoma State. He averages 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. Junior Bradley Spencer had six points, five rebounds and six assists against the Savage Storm and is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game.
Harding is 3-4 on the road this season and has one victory in three road conference games, defeating East Central on Jan. 12.
Arkansas Tech is 11-4 overall and suffered a 97-94 road loss to Henderson State on Saturday. Senior Johnie Davis, the GAC's leading scorer at 24.0 points per game, scored 28 in the loss before fouling out. The Wonder Boys committed 36 fouls in the game, which led to 48 free throw attempts by the Reddies. Henderson State made 35 free throws, including 24 in the second half. Tech was outscored 28-12 off turnovers.
The turnover issue against Henderson State was unfamiliar to Arkansas Tech this season. The Wonder Boys are in the top 10 in Division II in both turnover margin and steals.
Harding and Arkansas Tech are playing for the 111th time since the series begin in 1958. Arkansas Tech holds the series lead 57-53, but Harding snapped a five-game losing streak to the Wonder Boys last season with an 80-61 victory over Arkansas Tech in the championship game of the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Southaven, Miss.
