Louisiana Tech Defeats Harding in Men's Basketball Exhibition

RUSTON, La. – Harding men's basketball played the first of two exhibition games against NCAA Division I teams Tuesday, falling 89-58 to Louisiana Tech of Conference USA.

Harding (0-2) returns to Searcy Thursday to take on Ecclesia College, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, located in Springdale, Arkansas.

Tech's size proved to be the difference Tuesday. The Bulldogs outscored Harding 54-16 in the paint, 16-0 on second-chance points and had a 46-23 rebound advantage.

Louisiana Tech (2-0) led 51-26 at halftime, connecting on 50 percent of its shots in the first half.

Harding freshman Gabriel Divic led the Bisons in scoring with 17 points. He connected on 6-of-11 shots, including 5-of-9 3-pointers. Sophomore Tyler Roth made two 3-pointers and scored 10 points.

Louisiana Tech had five players score in double figures, led by Mubarak Muhammed's 17 points.

On Dec. 29, Harding will play its second Division I exhibition against Arkansas State.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Harding made all seven of its free-throw attempts against Tech. Brandon Reeves shot all seven.
Reeves also led Harding with four rebounds. JV Long had a team-high four assists.
Harding and Louisiana Tech first played in 1965 in Ruston. John Valentine led Harding in scoring with 17 points. Ronnie Brown had 16. Four games later, Brown scored 47 points against Arkansas Tech, still the Harding single-game scoring record.
In 2001, Harding's Darren McCrillis (8) and Aaron Farley (5) combined to connect on 13 3-pointers in a 102-86 loss to Louisiana Tech.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#24 Brandon Reeves: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#10 Tyler Roth: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#1 JV Long: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#11 Gabriel Divic: F; 6' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#24 Brandon Reeves
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#10 Tyler Roth
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#1 JV Long
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#11 Gabriel Divic
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: F