Harding Men Seek Sixth Straight Victory, Host Southern Arkansas Saturday

Harding Game Notes

Harding (10-8, 8-4) vs. Southern Ark. (13-5, 9-3)
Jan. 31, 2015 • 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: 374-245 (21st season)
   Career: 391-255 (22nd season)
   vs. Southern Ark.: 26-14
Andy Sharpe, Southern Ark.
   at SAU: 35-38 (3rd season)
   Career: 203-108 (10th season)

THE SERIES
Series Record: SAU leads 70-48
in Searcy: HU leads 31-24
First Meeting: SAU 64-61 (11/23/1957)
Last Meeting: SAU 64-62 (12/4/2014)
Current Streak: SAU, 2 games

Harding carries a season-best five-game winning streak into Saturday's game against Great American Conference leader Southern Arkansas. Tipoff at Rhodes Field House is at 7:30 p.m.

Harding enters the game with a 10-8 overall record and 8-4 GAC mark. The Bisons are in fourth place and are only one game behind co-leaders Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist. The Bisons are 9-1 at home this season and 7-0 in home conference games.

Harding is coming off a 74-61 victory over Henderson State on Thursday at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia. Andraz Kavas led Harding with 20 points, and Blake McNair scored 15 points.

Southern Arkansas is 13-5 overall and 9-3 in the GAC. The Muleriders are tied with Ouachita Baptist for the top spot in the conference standings. Southern Arkansas is coming off a 109-80 home victory over Arkansas Tech. Six Muleriders scored 10 or more points.

Harding made 4-of-6 free throws in the victory over Henderson State. The last time the Bisons made four or fewer free throws and won was a 93-72 victory over Central Oklahoma on Jan. 7, 1999. The Bisons were 4-of-8 in that game.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding has three of the top 20 3-point shooters in program history currently on the team. Andraz Kavas ranks eighth at 40.3 percent (52-of-129), Blake McNair is 12th at 39.5 percent (85-of-215), and Jacob Gibson is 18th at 38.0 percent (136-of-358).

Harding leads the GAC and ranks 18th in NCAA II in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.4. During its current five-game winning streak, Harding has averaged only 10.0 turnovers per game, including a season-low four against Arkansas Tech on Jan. 22.

Harding leads the GAC and ranks 11th in NCAA II with 10.4 3-pointers per game. The Bisons have made 10 or more 3-pointers in four of their last five games and 12 times this season. Harding set a school record with 21 3-pointers vs. Northwestern Oklahoma on Dec. 18.

Harding's four made free throws in Thursday's win over Henderson State marks the first time the Bisons have made four or fewer free throws in a game since hitting 1-of-4 free throws in a 79-68 loss at North Alabama on Dec. 7, 2006.

Series Notes:
Harding and Southern Arkansas are meeting for the 119th time with the Muleriders leading the series 70-48. The Bisons hold a 31-24 advantage in games played in Searcy. Harding has won the last 12 games between the teams at the Rhodes Field House. Southern Arkansas' last win in Searcy was on Feb. 7, 2002.

Southern Arkansas won the first meeting between the teams 64-62 in Magnolia on Dec. 4. Harding led 35-32 at halftime but shot only 32 percent in the second half. Blake McNair led Harding iwth 17 points, hitting three of Harding's 10 3-pointers. Alvin Braddock came off the bench to lead Southern Arkansas with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Southern Arkansas won depite shooting only 9-of-27 (33 percent) at the free-throw line.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Southern Arkansas:
   Points - 34, Steven Blake (2/14/2011) and Ned Boaz (1/12/1965)
   Rebounds - 16, Zach Roddenberry (1/17/2013)
   Assists - 12, Jerry Morgan (2/7/1977)

Opponent Notes:
Southern Arkansas is 13-5 overall and 9-3 in GAC games. The Muleriders are 3-3 on the road, including 3-2 in GAC road games. Southern Arkansas has won three of its last four road games, losing its most recent, a 77-70 setback at Ouachita Baptst on Jan. 24.

Southern Arkansas leads the GAC and ranks 27th in NCAA II in field-goal percentage defense. The Muleriders hold opponents to 40.3 percent and have held their opponents to below 50 percent in 16 of their 18 games this season.

Alre'k Brown, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Dawson, Georgia, ranks second in the GAC and 13th in NCAA II in field-goal percentage at 64.4 percent.

Chauncey Williams, a 6-foot senior guard from Milwaukee, ranks second in the GAC and 17th in NCAA II with 3.24 3-point field goals per game.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Andraz Kavas: F; 6' 10"; Junior

#23 Blake McNair: G; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#44 Andraz Kavas
: 6' 10"; Junior
: F

#23 Blake McNair
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#44 Andraz Kavas

#23 Blake McNair

Players Mentioned

#44 Andraz Kavas

#23 Blake McNair