Harding Game Notes

Harding (4-5, 2-2) vs. Northwestern Okla. (2-7, 1-2)
Dec. 18, 2014 • Rhodes Field House • Searcy, Ark. • 7:30 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Radio: KVHU 95.3-FM
Internet:
    Audio: www.HardingSports.com
    Video: www.HardingSports.com
Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Jeff Morgan, Harding
    at Harding: 368-242 (21st season)
    Career: 385-252 (22nd season)
    vs. Northwestern Okla.: 2-2
Andrew Brown, Northwestern Okla.
    at NWOSU: 112-100 (8th season)
    Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Tied 2-2
in Searcy: Tied 1-1
First Meeting: HU 82-66 (1/5/2013)
Last Meeting: NWOSU 65-58 (2/6/2014)
Current Streak: NWOSU, 1 game

KEY NOTES FOR TODAY'S GAME
Harding continues Great American Conference play Thursday hosting Northwestern Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. in its final game before beginning Christmas break.

Harding enters the game with a 4-5 overall record and 2-2 GAC mark. The Bisons are tied for sixth in the conference standings but are only one game behind GAC leader East Central (3-1).

Northwestern Oklahoma enters the game 2-7 overall and 1-2 in GAC games. The Rangers are in their final season of their transition to full NCAA status and are ineligible for the GAC Tournament. Northwestern has lost three straight, including a 70-67 overtime loss at Southeastern on Saturday.

Blake McNair scored a career-high 26 points and tied a career high with nine rebounds in leading Harding to a 92-83 victory over Henderson State on Saturday. Johnthan McGee added 22 points and Harding made 12 3-pointers and 30 free throws in the victory.

Harding's offense has scored more than 90 points three times this season and averages 77 points. Northwestern has allowed 80 or more points three times and allows an average of 78 points.

Harding Team Notes:
Jacob Gibson ranks 20th among Division II juniors in career 3-pointers made with 110. He is 89th among all Division II players. Gibson is tied with J.R. Duke (1994-98) for 17th at Harding and one behind Bradley Spencer's 111 3-pointers for 16th place.
 
Junior Johnthan McGee has scored in double figures in three straight games, averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over that stretch.

Harding leads the GAC and ranks 27th in Division II with 9.8 3-pointers made per game. The Bisons have made 10 or more 3-pointers six times this season, including the last three games.

Harding also leads the GAC in free-throw percentage (75.7), by almost five percent over second-place East Central (70.9). Harding made a season-high 30 free throws and shot 81.1 percent in its victory over Henderson State.

Series Notes:
Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma are meeting for the fifth time with the series tied 2-2. The series is tied 1-1 in Searcy with Harding winning 82-66 in 2013 and Northwestern winning 65-58 in 2014.

The teams split the two meetings last season, both winning on the road. The Bisons won 69-63 in Alva on Jan. 4, and the Rangers won 65-58 in Searcy on Feb. 6.

Jacob Gibson averaged 13.0 points in the two games against Northwestern last season, hitting 6-of-16 from 3-point range. Will Francis averaged 10.0 points and had five steals in the two games. Andraz Kavas scored 11 points and had seven rebounds in one game against the Rangers.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Northwestern Oklahoma:
    Points - 23, Hayden Johnson (1/4/2014)
    Rebounds - 7, Hayden Johnson (1/4/2014) & Andraz Kavas (1/4/2014)
    Assists - 9, Weston Jameson (2/6/2014)

Opponent Notes:
Northwestern is 2-7 overall and 1-2 in GAC games. The Rangers have lost their last three and seven of their last eight. The only win during the stretch was a 71-66 home conference victory over Southern Nazarene on Dec. 4.

Northwestern is led by junior guard T'aires Taylor, a native of Oklahoma City. Taylor ranks 14th in the GAC with 13.3 points per game. He is also fifth in 3-point field goal percentage at 46.9 percent. He has connected on 15-of-32 3-point attempts.

Adrian Motley, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward from Humble, Texas, leads the Rangers in rebounding. He averages 7.7 rebounds per game, good for fourth in the GAC. He is sixth in offensive rebounding (2.2 per game) and fifth in defensive rebounding (5.4 per game).

Northwestern shoots only 34 percent from 3-point range but had its best effort of the season in its last outing vs. Southeastern. The Rangers connected on 11-of-26 3-pointers, shooting 42 percent.