SEARCY - Harding begins its 70th season of intercollegiate basketball Thursday against Champion Baptist at the Rhodes Field House. It is the Bisons' 56th season since renewing its program in 1957.
After winning the Great American Conference Tournament and earning its second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament, Harding enters the 2014-15 season picked to finish second in the GAC.
Harding returns three starters (Jacob Gibson, Will Francis, and Blake McNair) and six letterwinners from last season's team. The Bisons went 15-15 during the regular season in 2013-14.
The Bisons have won 38 consecutive home openers dating to the 1975-76 season. Harding defeated Christian Brothers 70-66 to open the home schedule last season.
Harding coach Jeff Morgan, in his 23rd season as a head coach, is ranked 32nd among active NCAA Division II coaches with 381 career victories.
Harding's leading returning scorer is junior Jacob Gibson, an honorable mention All-GAC performer last season. Gibson averaged 14.0 points and led the GAC with 82 3-pointers made, third-most in a season by a Bison.
Also returning is sophomore Will Francis, the GAC Rookie of the Year last season. Francis averaged 11.1 points and scored in double figures 16 times.
Blake McNair, a junior from Harrison, Ark., started 20 games and averaged 8.8 points. He scored a career-high 25 points in Harding's GAC Tournament championship game.
Also returning are juniors Andraz Kavas (10.5 ppg), Antoine Burrell (3.5 ppg), and John Hudson (2.7 ppg).
Harding has nine new players on its roster this season, including probable starter Johnthan McGee, a junior from Jackson, Mississippi.
Harding and Champion Baptist are meeting for the 10th time with the Bisons holding a 9-0 series lead. The average margin of victory in the previous nine games is 44.3 points.
Champion Baptist, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas and with an enrollment of about 300 students, has a 2-4 overall record. The Eagles are led by Cody Connor, a 5-9 guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who averages 15.4 points. Glenwood, Arkansas, native Hayes Linville, a 6-6 freshman center, averages 12.2 points and 11.6 rebounds.
Harding will play Christian Brothers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Field House. Christian Brothers defeated the University of Memphis 74-70 in an exhibition Wednesday in Memphis.
