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Harding University Athletics

2023-24 mbball at East Central.jpg
71
Winner Harding Hard 9-10,6-7 GAC
68
East Central ECU 9-10,5-8 GAC
Winner
Harding Hard
9-10,6-7 GAC
71
Final
68
East Central ECU
9-10,5-8 GAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harding Hard 39 32 71
East Central ECU 32 36 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Scott Goode (2/1/24)

Bisons Roar to Victory with Sizzling Shooting, Top East Central 71-68

ADA, Okla. – Harding got off to a blistering hot start and led for all but 23 seconds of a 71-68 victory over East Central on Thursday in Great American Conference men's basketball action at Kerr Activities Center.

Harding won for the fourth time in its last five games and improved to 9-10 overall and 6-7 in conference games, tied for fifth place in the GAC. The Bisons defeated the Tigers for the first time since 96-93 victory on Jan. 7, 2016, snapping a 13-game skid against East Central. Harding last had six or more conference victories when it went 11-11 in 2016-17.

Harding shot a staggering 62.5% from the field in the first half, connecting on 6-of-11 3-pointers and all three free throws. The Bisons led 39-32 at the break.

Harding remained in the lead the entire second half, twice building leads of as many as nine points. The first came with 6:50 left when Rylie Marshall made a layup to give the Bisons a 59-50 advantage. Marshall was fouled on 3-pointer and made all three free throws at the 5:32 mark, giving Harding a 63-54 lead.

East Central cut the lead to 70-69 late, but Keyln McBride made two free throws with 13 seconds left, and the Tigers missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

McBride led Harding with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting that included 5-of-7 from 3-point range. He eclipsed the 500 career points mark in the game and now has 99 career 3-pointers.

Marshall shot 6-of-10 and made all four free throws to score 17 points.

Abou Gbane came off the bench to score 10 points and lead the team with eight rebounds.

For the game, Harding shot 54.1% from the field, 9-of-20 from 3-point range and 10-of-15 at the line.

East Central lost for the sixth time in its last seven games and fell to 9-10 overall and 5-8 in conference.

Harding's next action is Saturday against Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. Southeastern defeated Arkansas Tech 70-66 at home on Thursday night.
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