SEARCY – Arkansas Tech made a season-high 28 free throws and led throughout the second half, defeating Harding 85-73 Monday night in Great American Conference men's basketball action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
Harding fell to 5-19 overall and 3-15 in the GAC. Arkansas Tech won for only the third time in its last 30 road games and improved to 9-14 overall and 6-11 in conference.
There were 10 ties and seven lead changes in the first half. A late 3-pointer from Tech's Cam Kennedy gave the Wonder Boys a 37-35 lead at the break.
Harding made its first 10 layups and 12 of 13 in the half, scoring 26 of its 35 points in the paint. The Bisons shot 57% in the first 20 minutes, but Tech made 5 of its last 6 shots to retake the lead.
Tech opened the second half by scoring the first four points and pushed its lead to 10 at 57-47 on a 3-pointer from Taelon Peter with 9:56 left.
Tech led 72-60 on a Tony Hall layup with 4:20 left, but Taylor Currie scored eight straight points for Harding and trimmed the lead to 73-68 with 2:52 left.
Harding held Tech without a field goal for the final 4:20, but the Wonder Boys made 13 free throws during that time to hold off the Bisons.
Currie led Harding with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Stetson Smithson added 17, hitting 7 of 11 shots and leading the team with nine rebounds.
Tony Hall led Tech with 21 points, shooting 10 of 12 at the free-throw line. Peter and Kennedy both had 17 points.
Harding's next action is Thursday. The Bisons will travel to Oklahoma to take on Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford.
Gallery: (2-14-2022) Men's Basketball vs. Arkansas Tech
