Harding Men's Basketball Hosts Northwestern Oklahoma on Thursday

Harding (10-6, 9-2) vs. Northwestern Okla. (5-10, 5-6)
Jan. 28, 2016 • Rhodes-Reaves 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: 388-257 (22nd season)
   Career: 405-267 (23rd season)
   vs. Northwestern Okla.: 4-3
Brad Franz, Northwestern Okla.
   at NWOSU: 5-10 (1st season)
   Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: HU leads 4-3
in Searcy: HU leads 2-1
First Meeting: HU 82-66 (1/5/2013)
Last Meeting: HU 82-63 (11/19/2015)
Current Streak: HU, 1 game

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
Harding enters the game tied with Ouachita for first place in the Great American Conference at 9-2. The Bisons have won six of their last seven games overall and their last three straight. Northwestern Oklahoma opened the season 1-8 but has won four of its last six games, including a 71-66 upset victory over East Central last Saturday. Harding won the first meeting between the teams 82-63 in Alva on Nov. 19.

KEY STAT
The game features two of the top three free-throw shooting teams in the GAC. Harding is second in the conference at 71.6 percent, and Northwestern is third at 71.0 percent. Ouachita leads the GAC at 74.1 percent.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harding senior Blake McNair enters this weekend's games as the GAC leader in both free-throw percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage. McNair is shooting 94.3 percent at the free-throw line, made 10-of-10 against Southern Arkansas, and has made 18 straight. He is shooting 51.2 percent from 3-point range and has made multiple 3-pointers in 11 straight games.

Northwestern's Adrian Motley, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Humble, Texas, ranks fourth in the GAC in scoring (18.1) and rebounding (7.2). Motley has scored 10 or more points in 14 of 15 games and had his first double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over East Central.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Harding held Southern Arkansas to only 2-of-19 from 3-point range on Monday, the fewest 3s made by a Harding opponent this season. The Bisons' last two opponents have shot 6-of-40 (15 percent) from 3-point range, and Harding now leads the GAC in opponent 3-point field-goal percentage at 29.3 percent. Northwestern is third in the GAC in free-throw percentage at 71.0 percent and have shot over 70 percent from the line in the last five games. The Rangers have outscored their opponents by 29 points at the free-throw line.

UP NEXT
Harding hosts Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday.
Northwestern Oklahoma travels to Arkansas Tech on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

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

Players Mentioned

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

Players Mentioned

#23 Blake McNair

Players Mentioned

#23 Blake McNair