Basketball Bisons Battle Arkansas Tech on Thursday in Last Road Game

Harding Game Notes

Harding (12-12, 10-8) vs. Arkansas Tech (13-13, 9-9)
Feb. 26, 2015 • Tucker Coliseum • Russellivlle, Ark. • 7:30 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Radio: KVHU 95.3-FM (Billy Morgan and Scott Goode)
Internet:
   Audio: www.HardingSports.com
   Video: www.HardingSports.com
Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Jeff Morgan, Harding
   at Harding: 376-249 (21st season)
   Career: 393-259 (22nd season)
   vs. Arkansas Tech: 25-19
Chad Kline, Arkansas Tech
   at Tech: 13-13 (1st season)
   Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Tech leads 61-57
in Russellville: Tech leads 36-19
First Meeting: Tech 84-69 (1/13/1958)
Last Meeting: HU 89-80 (1/22/2015)
Current Streak: HU, 2 games

KEY NOTES FOR TODAY'S GAME
Harding plays the last of three straight road games Thursday in Russellville, Arkansas as the Bisons take on Arkansas Tech at Tucker Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.

Harding enters the game with a 12-12 overall record and 10-8 GAC mark. The Bisons are tied with Southern Arkansas for third place in the conference standings and have clinched one of eight spots in the GAC Tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Harding is coming off a 78-76 loss to East Central on Saturday in Ada, Oklahoma. Andraz Kavas led Harding with 24 points and six rebounds. East Central shot 64 percent in the second half and made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win.

Arkansas Tech is coming off a 77-76 road victory at Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday in Durant, Oklahoma. Clarence Willard, who had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the game, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win it.

Andraz Kavas enters the game averaging 20.0 points. The last Harding player to average 20.0 points or more in a season was Matt Hall, who averaged 20.7 points in 2007-08.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding leads the GAC and ranks fourth in NCAA II in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.57 assists per turnover. The Bisons have had more assists than turnovers in 20 games this season. Harding has had fewer than 10 turnovers in each of its last five games.

Harding makes 10.8 3-pointers per game to lead the GAC and rank seventh in NCAA II. The Bisons have made 10 or more 3-pointers 17 times and 15 or more 3-pointers three times.

Blake McNair has made 60 3-pointers this season and needs just four more to move into Harding's single-season top 10. He currently ranks second in the GAC and 30th in NCAA II in 3-point field-goal percentage at 44.1 percent.

Andraz Kavas leads the GAC and ranks 29th in NCAA II in scoring with 20.0 points per game. He has scored 10 or more points in 17 straight games. He has 14 20-point games this season and two 30-point games. Kavas needs 19 points to reach 500 points for the season.

Harding sophomore Will Francis has made 25-of-45 3-pointers (55.6 percent) over the last six games. He has moved into fifth in the GAC in 3-point field-goal percentage at 43.0 percent.

Harding has three active players ranked in the top 16 in career 3-point field-goal percentage--Blake McNair (9th, 40.0), Andraz Kavas (13th, 38.8), and Will Francis (16th, 38.3).

Series Notes:
Harding and Arkansas Tech are meeting for the 118th time with the Wonder Boys leading the series 61-57. Tech leads the series in Russellville 36-19. Harding has only won once in its last seven games at Tucker Coliseum, a 73-64 victory in 2013.

Blake McNair was one of three Bisons to score 20 points or more in Harding's 89-80 victory over Arkansas Tech in the first meeting. McNair made five 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Kavas scored 20 points, and Will Francis had 11 points and eight assists.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Arkansas Tech:
   Points - 47, Ronnie Brown (12/17/1965) -- Harding record
   Rebounds - 23, Freddie Dixon (2/8/1973)
   Assists - 10, Steven Barnett (3/7/2009)

Opponent Notes:
Arkansas Tech is 13-13 overall and 9-9 in GAC games. The Wonder Boys are 9-4 at home, including 6-3 in GAC home games. Arkansas Tech has won four of its last five overall and three straight at home.

Arkansas Tech leads the GAC in 3-point field-goal percentage defense, allowing 31.8 percent. The Wonder Boys have allowed 10 or more 3-pointers six times this season. In fact, Harding's 15 3-pointers in the first game is the most allowed by Arkansas Tech this season.

Tech has two of the top 3-point shooters in the GAC. Mike Balogun is sixth in 3-pointers per game (2.8) and in 3-point field-goal percentage (41.0). Tyler Friedel is 8th in both with 2.6 per game and 39.8 percent.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Will Francis: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

#21 Will Francis
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

Harding University Athletics

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Basketball Bisons Battle Arkansas Tech on Thursday in Last Road Game

Players Mentioned

#21 Will Francis

#44 Andraz Kavas

#23 Blake McNair

Players Mentioned

#21 Will Francis

#44 Andraz Kavas

#23 Blake McNair