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Harding University Athletics

81
Harding HU 1-14, 1-9 GAC
85
Winner Henderson State HSU 8-7, 3-6 GAC
Harding HU
1-14, 1-9 GAC
81
Final
85
Henderson State HSU
8-7, 3-6 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harding HU 36 45 81
Henderson State HSU 35 50 85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | by Scott Goode (1/18/18)

Henderson State Downs Harding Men's Basketball 85-81

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After seven lead changes early in the second half, Henderson State took the lead for good with just under 11 minutes left and held on to defeat Harding 85-81 Thursday in Great American Conference action at the Duke Wells Center.

Henderson State (8-7, 3-6) snapped a seven-game losing streak to Harding with the win, its fifth straight at home. Harding (1-14, 1-8) had won the last three meetings in Arkadelphia. The Bisons will be back in action on the road Saturday at Arkansas-Monticello.

Harding opened the game on a 10-0 run and had a 13-2 lead after a Zac Ward 3 from the right corner.

A 3-pointer from Tim Wagner with 6:40 left gave Harding a 32-20 lead, its largest of the first half. Henderson State closed out the half well, outscoring Harding 15-4 the rest of the half. The Reddies scored six straight to end the half and cut the Bisons' lead to 36-35 at the break.

Harding shot 58 percent (14 of 25) in the half and made 7 of 13 3-pointers. Henderson State shot 38 percent (12 of 32) and made 3 of 10 3s and 8 of 11 free throws.

Both teams shot well early in the second half and a Kaylon Tappin jumper with 10:59 left gave the Reddies a 62-61 lead.

Henderson State pushed its lead to as many as eight points at 79-71 with 2:54 left on two Chris Parker free throws. Wagner hit a late 3-pointer, his fourth of the game, to pull the Bisons to within two points at 81-79 with 26 seconds left.

Henderson State, the top free-throw shooting team in the conference, made four down the stretch to hold on.

The Reddies made 24 of 32 free throws in the game. Harding was 9 of 17.

Alex Francis scored his first points only four seconds into the game, intercepting the opening tip and racing in for a layup. Francis's next field goals were from a little farther away, both were 3-pointers. He made four from long range total and scored a career-high 18 points. His previous high was 12 in Harding's game Monday against Arkansas Tech.

Wagner and Ward both had four 3-pointers. Wagner finished with 18 points, and Ward had 15. Reggie Anthony added 13 points and six assists.

Tappin was the game's high scorer, scoring 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting. He was 9 of 11 at the free-throw line.
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