Skip To Main Content

Harding University Athletics

Harding Men's Basketball
83
Winner Northwestern Okla. NW 10-6,5-5 GAC
80
Harding Hard 4-10,2-6 GAC
Winner
Northwestern Okla. NW
10-6,5-5 GAC
83
Final
80
Harding Hard
4-10,2-6 GAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Northwestern Okla. NW 41 42 83
Harding Hard 34 46 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Scott Goode (1/20/22)

Harding Hits 15 3-pointers, Falls Late to Northwestern Oklahoma

SEARCY – Stetson Smithson and Ramiro Santiago combined to make 11 3-pointers and score 50 points between them, but Northwestern Oklahoma came from behind late to defeat Harding 83-80 Thursday in Great American Conference men's basketball action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

The loss dropped Harding to 4-10 overall and 2-6 in the GAC. Northwestern won its third GAC road game and improved to 10-6 overall and 5-5 in conference.

Harding trailed from the 12:24 mark of the first half until late in the game. Smithson tied the game at 78-78 with a 3-pointer with 2:01 left. It was the last field goal of the game for either team. Smithson then connected on two free throws with 1:25 left to give the Bisons an 80-78 lead.

Northwestern missed two shots on its next trip, but Harding fouled guard Brian Free with 34 seconds remaining. Free hit both free throws to tie the game at 80-80. A Ranger steal on Harding's next possession led to another Bison foul. Northwestern's Larry White made 1 of 2 free throws to put the Rangers ahead.

Harding missed a 3-point attempt with three seconds left and a foul on the rebound sent Free back to the foul line with just under a second left. He hit both free throws for the final margin.

Smithson scored a career-high 27 points. He connected on 7 of 11 field goals, including five 3-pointers, and hit all eight of his free-throw attempts. Santiago tied a career high with six 3-pointers and scored 23 points.

Free led Northwestern with 20 points, and Bubba Furlong added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Harding shot 15 of 27 (56%) from 3-point range, its highest 3-point total of the season and highest 3-point percentage.

Harding made eight 3-pointers in the first half and trailed 41-34 at the break.

Harding returns to the Rhodes-Reaves Field House Saturday to take on Southwestern Oklahoma. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.


 
Gallery: (1-20-2022) Men's Basketball vs. Northwestern Okla.

 
Print Friendly Version