SHAWNEE, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist shot well early, especially inside, and defeated Harding 84-60 Saturday in Great American Conference men's action at the Noble Complex.

Harding dropped to 5-9 overall and 2-6 in conference. The Bisons will be back in action Thursday at home against Southwestern Oklahoma. Oklahoma Baptist snapped a two-game skid and improved to 7-7 overall and 4-4 in the GAC.

Oklahoma Baptist shot 58% from the field in the first half and scored 32 points in the paint to lead 49-31 at halftime.

Harding struggled from the field in the first half, shooting 35.5% and made only 3-of-17 3-point shots.

The Bisons closed the gap to 50-38 early in the second half after consecutive 3-pointers from Rylie Marshall. Harding went without a field goal for the next four minutes, and Oklahoma Baptist went on a 13-2 run to pull away.

Sam Henderson led Harding with 15 points. Abou Gbane scored 13 points and Marshall added 12.

TEAM NOTES

·         Harding got 26 bench points, led by 13 from Gbane.

·         Harding tied a season high with seven blocked shots … Gbane led HU with three swats.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

·         Sam Henderson had a team-high four assists and has multiple assists in nine straight games.

·         Rylie Marshall made a team-high three 3-pointers and has at least one 3-pointer in 13 of 14 games this season.

·         Keyln McBride had two assists and has had multiple assists in every game this season … has 32 assists and seven turnovers in the last eight games.

SERIES NOTES

·         Oklahoma Baptist leads 11-6 overall and 8-1 in Shawnee … HU's last win in Shawnee was in 2016.