Box Score BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Harding junior
Zach Roddenberry did not miss a shot in scoring 26 points, but the Bisons fell to Arkansas-Monticello 58-54 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse.
The loss ended Harding's season with a 13-14 overall record. Arkansas-Monticello (21-8), the No. 3 seed in the tournament, advances to meet the winner of Henderson State (No. 2) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (No.7) on Saturday at noon.
Harding led 52-47 with 5:28 left in the game, but Arkansas-Monticello scored the next nine points. The Bisons made only one basket in the final six minutes of the game, a layup by
Weston Jameson with 1:37 left that cut the UAM lead to 56-54.
A turnover and a missed layup down the stretch by the Bisons prevented Harding from tying the game. Arkansas-Monticello's L.A. Farmer made two free throws with eight seconds left to seal the victory.
Roddenberry was 8-of-8 from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line. He also led the team with 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots. Roddenberry became the first Harding player ever to make every field goal attempt in a game with a minimum of eight shots. He was the only Harding player with more than 10 points.
Harding, who made 13 3-pointers in its game against Arkansas-Monticello on Feb. 23, hit only 1-of-13 3-pointers Thursday. The Bisons missed their first five 3-point attempts of the game before
Bradley Spencer made one with 3:13 left before halftime. Harding missed all seven 3-pointers in the second half.
Farmer led Arkansas-Monticello with 27 points. He made only 8-of-25 from the field but hit all 10 of his free throws. Kori Forge added 11 for the Weevils.
Arkansas-Monticello, the top offensive rebounding team in the conference, had 16 offensive boards and outscored Harding 21-12 on second chance points. The Weevils also scored 16 points off 18 Harding turnovers.