ALVA, Okla. – Harding shot 60 percent in the second half and held Northwestern Oklahoma below 30 percent for the game in a 66-57 victory Saturday in Great American Conference action at Percefull Field House.

It was Harding's fifth straight victory and moved the Bisons to 12-5 overall and 9-4 in the GAC. The Bisons remained in third place in the conference standings, tied with Arkansas Tech.

Northwestern fell to 8-10 overall and 4-9 in conference. The Rangers are two games out of the GAC Tournament picture and in 10th place.

Harding shot only 4-of-20 in the first half but made 10-of-12 free throws and trailed only 24-21 at the break.

Northwestern led 36-33 with 14:44 left in the game, but sophomore Braden Eggleston scored six points during an 8-0 run to put Harding ahead to stay. His free throws with 12:32 left gave the Bisons a 41-36 advantage.

The Rangers cut the lead to 43-40 with just over 10 minutes left, but Will Francis had three buckets and an assist in an 11-1 Harding run that ended on Adam Horn's 3-pointer that gave the Bisons a 54-41 advantage.

Northwestern never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

Francis led Harding in scoring for the second straight game. He had 16 points, including 10-of-12 at the free throw line, and added six rebounds and six assists. Stefan Andelkovic made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in addition to his team-high seven rebounds.

Deiondray Martin led Northwestern with 16 points.

Harding returns to action Thursday in Searcy when it hosts Oklahoma Baptist at 7:30 p.m.