MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Harding limited Southern Arkansas to only 26 second half points and pulled away from the Muleriders, winning 74-57 on Saturday at Watson Athletic Center. The Bisons collected their fourth win in the last five games, snapped a three-game road skid, and moved into sole possession of third place in the Great American Conference.

Harding (11-8, 6-3) won its fifth straight over Southern Arkansas and now trail only Henderson State (8-2) and Arkansas Tech (7-2) in the GAC standings.

Harding trailed by as many as eight in the first half but ended the period on an 8-2 run that cut Southern Arkansas' lead to 31-30 at the break.

The Bisons continued the run to open the second half, scoring the next eight points to take a 38-31 lead. Southern Arkansas (12-10, 5-5) closed to within three points on two occasions but got no closer. Harding led 53-47 with 6:39 left, but a 9-0 Bison run put the game out of reach.

Southern Arkansas shot only 27 percent in the second half and 36 percent for the game. It was the fifth straight game Harding, the GAC's leader in field goal percentage defense, held its opponent below 40 percent shooting.

Junior Bradley Spencer scored 11 of Harding's first 13 points and finished with a team-high 18 points. He also added a team-high eight assists, six rebounds and four steals. Spencer became just the 17th Bison with more than 100 career steals.

Junior Zach Roddenberry made 8-of-10 shots and had 16 points and eight rebounds. Hayden Johnson made two 3-pointers and scored 14 points, and Weston Jameson added 10 points.

Chris Davis led Southern Arkansas with 19 points.

Harding, who last won on the road on Jan. 12 against East Central, shot 57 percent for the game and made 7-of-15 3-point attempts.

The Bisons next three games are all at Rhodes Field House, beginning Thursday against East Central. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Harding (11-8, 6-3) won its fifth straight over Southern Arkansas and now trail only Henderson State (8-2) and Arkansas Tech (7-2) in the GAC standings.

Harding trailed by as many as eight in the first half but ended the period on an 8-2 run that cut Southern Arkansas' lead to 31-30 at the break.

The Bisons continued the run to open the second half, scoring the next eight points to take a 38-31 lead. Southern Arkansas (12-10, 5-5) closed to within three points on two occasions but got no closer. Harding led 53-47 with 6:39 left, but a 9-0 Bison run put the game out of reach.

Southern Arkansas shot only 27 percent in the second half and 36 percent for the game. It was the fifth straight game Harding, the GAC's leader in field goal percentage defense, held its opponent below 40 percent shooting.

Junior Bradley Spencer scored 11 of Harding's first 13 points and finished with a team-high 18 points. He also added a team-high eight assists, six rebounds and four steals. Spencer became just the 17th Bison with more than 100 career steals.

Junior Zach Roddenberry made 8-of-10 shots and had 16 points and eight rebounds. Hayden Johnson made two 3-pointers and scored 14 points, and Weston Jameson added 10 points.

Chris Davis led Southern Arkansas with 19 points.

Harding, who last won on the road on Jan. 12 against East Central, shot 57 percent for the game and made 7-of-15 3-point attempts.

The Bisons next three games are all at Rhodes Field House, beginning Thursday against East Central. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.