MONTICELLO, Ark. – No. 22 Arkansas-Monticello got off to a quick start and held off Harding 84-78 on Thursday in Great American Conference action at Steelman Field House.
Harding was attempting to win on the road against a nationally-ranked team for the first time since 2011, but its comeback fell just short. The Bisons dropped to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in conference. Arkansas-Monticello remained undefeated at 11-0 overall and 7-0 in the GAC. The Weevils have won 12 straight dating to last season.
After trailing by as many as 20 points in the first half and 19 in the second, Harding cut the Arkansas-Monticello lead to 79-73 on a 3-pointer by Zac Ward with just over a minute left.
The Weevils got a free throw from Karim Mawuenyega to move the lead to seven points. Harding junior Tim Wagner hit a layup to cut the Weevil lead to 80-75, but Arkansas-Monticello made four free throws to seal it.
Harding senior Will Francis made a 3-pointer to open the game, but Arkansas-Monticello scored the next 14 points and led 42-22 with 3:06 left in the first half. The Bisons closed the first half with a 7-0 run and trailed 44-31 at halftime.
Junior Tim Wagner scored 15 of Harding's 31 first-half points, connecting on 5-of-7 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Wagner finished with a team-high 22 points, his 11th consecutive game in double figures.
Arkansas-Monticello shot 57 percent in the first half, made its first eight field goals in the second half, and finished at 56 percent. The Weevils led 55-36 with just under 16 minutes left in the second half and held a double-digit lead until a Ward layup with 3:28 left that cut it to 74-65.
Francis, the GAC's top 3-point shooter, made 4-of-5 3-pointers and scored 18 points. He added two assists without a turnover and has 21 assists to only three turnovers in the last five games. Ward earned his second career start and scored 11. Braden Eggleston also scored 11.
All five Weevil starters scored at least 12 points with Derylton Hill leading the way with 20 points. Cobe Goosby had 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Harding plays its second straight road game Saturday at 3 p.m. at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
