Harding Game Notes

Harding Men's Basketball

#25 Harding (2-2) at Christian Brothers (2-2)

Location: Canale Arena, Memphis, Tenn.

Time: 7 p.m.

Series:  HU leads 38-32

Coaches: Harding – Jeff Morgan (351-224, 21st season at HU; 368-234, 22nd season overall); Christian Brothers - Mike Nienaber (250-154, 15th season at CBU; 492-438, 31st season overall).

Live Stats/Audio/Video: Available through a link on HardingSports.com

Radio: None

• Harding meets familiar foe Christian Brothers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Canale Arena in Memphis. The Bisons and Bucs played on Nov. 14 in Searcy with Harding winning 70-66.

• The Bisons entered the season ranked No. 25 in the NABC Top 25 Poll. It is only the second time Harding has been ranked in the preseason poll--ranked 21st in the 2006-07 poll.

• Harding is coming off an 87-76 loss to Southern Nazarene to open Great American Conference play on Saturday in Bethany, Okla. Hayden Johnson scored a career-high 33 points, but Harding shot only 5-of-22 (22.7%) from 3-point range in the loss.

• Christian Brothers is also coming off a loss, falling 74-57 to Bellarmine on Saturday in Louisville, Ky. Sidy Sall led the Bucs with 16 points and eight rebounds, but Christian Brothers could not overcome Bellarmine's 58 percent shooting.

• Harding has been impressive at the free throw line in its first four games. The Bisons lead the GAC at 80.9 percent. Hayden Johnson leads the team, shooting 84.6 percent (22-of-26), followed by Weston Jameson at 84.2 percent (16-of-19), and Andraz Kavas at 78.3 percent (18-of-23).

• Harding and Christian Brothers are meeting for the 71st time with the Bisons holding a 38-32 overall lead in the series. Christian Brothers leads the series 20-13 in games played in Memphis, but Harding has won four of the last five  at Christian Brothers since 2009.

• Harding shot 63 percent from the field in the second half and defeated Christian Brothers 70-66 in the first meeting between the teams this season. Andraz Kavas led the Bisons with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Weston Jameson added 16 points, and Hayden Johnson had 15.

• Christian Brothers was led by Harry Green's 21 points, but the Bucs were outscored 16-7 at the free throw line. Trey Casey made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points, and point guard Cory McArthy scored 12 points.

• Harding was selected second in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bisons were behind only Arkansas Tech in the poll.

• Harding tied its single-game school record for 3-point attempts with 36 against Northeastern State on Nov. 16. The last time the Bisons' attempted 36 3-pointers was on Nov. 19, 2005 against Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T).

• Christian Brothers is a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference and is located in Memphis, Tenn.

• Christian Brothers is coached by Mike Nienaber, who is in his 15th season as head coach of the Bucs and his 31st season as a collegiate head coach. Nienaber, a 1977 graduate of Mississippi College, coached 16 seasons at Bethel (Tenn.) with a 242-284 record from 1983-99 before moving to Christian Brothers. He entered the 2013-14 season ranked 14th in victories among active Division II coaches.

• Christian Brothers enters the game 2-2 overall with both of its victories coming at home. The Bucs have three players averaging double figures with Trey Casey leading the team at 15.3 points per game. The Bucs have shot the ball well from the field (46%) and from 3-point range (39%) but have struggled at the free throw line (67%).

• Christian Brothers was picked to finish second of eight teams in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bucs received two first place votes and finished only one vote behind preseason favorite North Alabama.

• Christian Brothers finished 21-9 last season and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional in Lakeland, Fla. The Bucs won the Gulf South Conference Tournament, defeating Valdosta State 65-62 in the championship. CBU was 13-5 in conference play and placed second in the GSC regular season.