SEARCY - Harding plays its second of six straight home games to open the 2012-13 season Saturday against St. Edward's, a member of the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference.

Harding is coming off a 92-71 victory over Central Baptist on Monday in its season opener. It was the 37th consecutive home opening victory for the Bisons and the 20th straight for Harding head coach Jeff Morgan. Harding improved to 10-0 all-time over Central Baptist with the victory.

Harding freshman Tony Cochrane scored a game-high 22 points in his Bison debut vs. Central Baptist. Cochrane made 7-of-9 shots, including 5-of-7 3-pointers. He was also 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Harding shot 24-of-30 (80 percent) from the free throw line vs. Central Baptist. The Bisons made 20-of-23 (87 percent) in the second half.

1st Team All-GAC honoree Zach Roddenberry got his season off to a good start with 18 points and five rebounds against Central Baptist. Roddenberry, one of three senior starters, scored 14 points in the second half.

Harding and St. Edward's are meeting for the fifth time with the Bisons holding a 3-1 lead. It is the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Harding and St. Edward's will meet exactly one month later on Dec. 17 at the Oahu Classic in Hawaii. Saturday's meeting will be the first meeting between the teams in Searcy.

St. Edward's defeated Harding 99-81 last season on Dec. 19 for the Hilltoppers' first victory in the series. Harding's Zach Roddenberry scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting. He was 6-of-6 at the free throw line and had seven rebounds. Hayden Johnson added 18 points. St. Edward's made 17 3-pointers in the game and shot 68 percent in the first half and 58 percent for the game. Khaliq Gross was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, made all six of his 3-point attempts, and led all scorers with 29 points. Zilijan Jones had 12 assists.

The Hilltoppers have opened the season 3-1 and are coming off a 90-68 victory over Huston-Tillotson, a cross-town NCAA Division III opponent on Nov. 13. St. Edward's played Division I Rice in an exhibition game Wednesday and lost 75-63.

St. Edward's has taken a staggering number of 3-pointers in its first four games. The Hilltoppers are shooting 31.5 3-pointers per game with an average of 10.0 made. Eight different St. Edward's players have made at least one 3-pointer.

The Hilltoppers are averaging less than 10 free throws made per game. St. Edward's has made 39 free throws in four games.