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Harding University Athletics

Sam Henderson
77
Harding Hard 12-14,9-11 GAC
80
Winner Southwestern Okla. SWO 9-16,9-11 GAC
Harding Hard
12-14,9-11 GAC
77
Final
80
Southwestern Okla. SWO
9-16,9-11 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Harding Hard 32 37 8 77
Southwestern Okla. SWO 35 34 11 80

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

Harding Falls Short in OT Thriller Against Southwestern Oklahoma

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma opened overtime with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and held on to defeat Harding 80-77 on Saturday in a Great American Conference men's basketball game at the Pioneer Cellular Events Center.

The loss dropped Harding to 12-14 overall and 9-11 in the GAC. Southwestern ended a three-game skid and improved to 9-16 overall and 9-11 in the conference.

Harding led 69-67 after Sam Smith's layup with 2:13 remaining in regulation. Southwestern tied the game with two free throws with 1:47 left, and neither team scored again in the final minutes.

Southwestern scored the first five points of the extra period, and Harding did not make a field goal until Keyln McBride's three-point play with 1:04 left, which cut the Bulldog lead to 75-74.

Brahm Harris hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to bring Harding within one point again, 78-77. Southwestern made two free throws, and Harding missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game.

Smith led Harding with 22 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 9-of-11 from the field and made both of his 3-point attempts. Harris added 13 points, Sam Henderson had 12, and Rylie Marshall scored 10.

Harding shot 52% from the field in the second half and made 5-of-8 3-pointers, but shot only 2-of-7 from the field in overtime.

Harding trailed by 12 points in the first half, but finished the half on a 6-0 run and cut Southwestern's lead to 35-32 at halftime.

Harding shot 36% in the first half, but made only 2-of-15 3-pointers. The Bisons scored 18 of their 32 points in the paint.

Harding will play its final home game of the season on Thursday, when it hosts Arkansas-Monticello. The Bisons will honor Butch Gardner, who will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in April.
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