ADA, Okla. – Harding men's basketball fought back from a 10-point second half deficit but had only one field goal in the final five and a half minutes and fell 58-54 to East Central in Great American Conference action Saturday at Kerr Activities Center.

The loss dropped Harding to 0-2 overall and in conference play. East Central won its second straight after defeating Arkansas Tech in overtime Thursday.

Harding freshman Tyler Roth made a layup with 5:28 left to give the Bisons a 50-49 lead. A Roth free throw at 4:44 tied the game at 51-51 with 4:44 remaining.

East Central scored five straight points and held a 56-51 lead. Harding did not have another field goal until Preston Anderson made a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining.

Adam Horn and Tim Wagner both scored 10 points to lead Harding. J.P. Brandon had nine points and a team-high six rebounds, and Anderson added eight points.

Gabe McKenzie led East Central with 14 points.

Harding shot 25 percent and made eight field goals and trailed 30-23 at halftime.

The Bisons shot 5-of-10 from 3-point range in the second half to help spark the comeback, but made just 2-of-8 free throws.

Harding's next action is a nonconference game Tuesday at Christian Brothers in Memphis, Tennessee.