SEARCY – Harding junior Will Francis scored 19 of his team-high 26 points in the first half to lead the Bisons to an 80-67 victory over East Central on Thursday in Great American Conference action on Senior Night at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Harding honored its six seniors--Dawson Yates, Jacob Gibson, John Hudson, Blake McNair, Antoine Burrell and Andraz Kavas--in a ceremony following the game.

The victory moves Harding into a tie for first place in the GAC. The Bisons are 17-10 overall and now tied with East Central and Ouachita Baptist at 16-5 in conference games. All three teams have one game remaining Saturday.

The game was tied three times early but Harding took the lead for good at 27-25 on a Micah Bailey layup with 8:26 left. A Francis layup with 1:07 left in the first half pushed the lead to 41-31, its first double-digit lead. Harding held a 41-36 advantage at halftime.

The Bisons opened the second half with four straight points and led by at least five points the rest of the way.

Harding shot 51 percent and outscored East Central 42-32 in the paint.

Jacob Gibson made two 3-pointers and scored 16 points.

Stirling Thomas led East Central with 25 points.

TEAM STATISTICS
Harding shot over 50 percent for the ninth time this season. East Central was Harding's eighth opponent to shoot less than 40 percent.

Harding had only nine turnovers. It was the eighth time this season the Bisons had fewer than 10 turnovers.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Francis scored more than 20 points for the fourth time this season. It was his 18th game in double figures.

Gibson had 16 points. He has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games.