ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Sophomore center
Taylor Currie, a transfer from Akron, and sophomore Stetson Smith both scored 24 points to lead Harding Friday in a 103-89 season-opening loss to Minot State in the first game of the GAC/Northern Sun Conference Challenge, hosted by St. Cloud State. Minot State is a member of the NSIC, located in Minot, North Dakota.
Minot State (1-0) shot a staggering 79% from the field in the second half, connecting on 9 of its first 11 3-point attempts in the half. The Beavers shot 63.5% for the game (highest shooting percentage by an opponent since Delta State shot 72.5% vs. Harding in 2004) and crossed the 100-point mark on a jumper by Kody Dwyer with 3:33 left. The Bisons outscored the Beaves 10-2 through the rest of the game.
Harding (0-1) shot a solid 57% from the field, including 9 of 23 from 3-point range.
Currie, in his Harding debut, was 9 of 14 shooting and led the team with eight rebounds. Smithson, a native of Bald Knob, Arkansas, scored a career high, shooting 10 of 13 with three 3-pointers.
Minot State led 61-50 with 14:53 left and went on a 17-3 run over the next three-plus minutes and led 75-53. The Beavers made all five of their 3-point tries during the run. Minot State held a 25-point lead with just over six minutes left.
Harding trailed 45-34 at halftime. Both teams shot over 50% in the first half. Minot State was 18 of 35 (51%) and made seven 3-pointers. Harding shot 16 of 30 (53%) but only 2 of 9 from 3-point range. The Bisons did not attempt a free throw in the first half but went 14 of 18 from the line in the second half.
Harding led early, but Minot State took the lead 8-6 on a Camron Dunfee dunk with 16:04 left in the first half. A Dunfee 3-pointer with 6:08 left before halftime gave Minot State a 15-point lead, its largest of the first half.
Dunfee led all scorers with 27 points. He made 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
Harding returns to the court Saturday to take on host St. Cloud State.
Gallery: (11-12-2021) Men's Basketball vs. Minot State
