ALVA, Okla. – Sam Smith led Harding with 17 points but Harding could not overcome 16 3-pointers from Northwestern Oklahoma and fell 80-67 Thursday at Percefull Fieldhouse.

With the loss, Harding fell to 12-13 overall and 9-10 in conference games. The Bisons are part of a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings with three games remaining. Northwestern Oklahoma won its seventh straight at home and improved to 15-10 overall and 13-6 in conference.

Harding led 36-32 at halftime and 46-44 with 14:11 left. Northwestern outscored the Bisons 24-5 over the next seven and a half minutes, hitting four 3-pointers during the run. The Rangers led 68-51 with 6:37 left.

Smith shot 6-of-13 from the floor and led the Bisons with seven rebounds. Smith has scored in double figures in five of the last six games.

Keyln McBride added 11 points, and Sam Henderson scored 10.

Harding returns to action Saturday against Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford.