Game Highlights and Postgame Interviews


MANKATO, Minn. - Senior forward Zach Roddenberry had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 5 seed Harding to a 75-71 victory over No. 4 Central Missouri on Saturday at the Taylor Center. It was Harding's first-ever victory in an NCAA II Tournament game.

Harding (22-9) will meet host and No. 1 seed Minnesota State (27-4) on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Taylor Center in Mankato.

Harding shot 69 percent from the field in the first half, led by as many as 16 points, and went to halftime with a 44-31 advantage. Central Missouri closed the gap in the second half and took the lead 55-54 on a Matt Webb 3-point play.

The game was tied six times in the final nine minutes. Harding's Weston Jameson tied it for the sixth time on two free throws with 2:48 left that made it 67-67.

Roddenberry made a layup on Harding's next trip to give the Bisons the lead for good. The Bisons made all six of their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Jameson had 12 points and a team-high five assists, and Andraz Kavas came off the bench to score 11 points.

Roddenberry was 9-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. He also had 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.

Widgett Washington and Matt Webb led Central Missouri with 17 points each.

Harding missed all eight of its 3-point attempts in the second half after hitting 6-of-10 in the first half and shot only 29.6 percent after halftime. But the Bisons were solid at the free throw line, making 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) in the second half.