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Schedule

Events

Schedule
All Events
Wyatt Gilbert
76
Winner Harding Hard 8-4,4-2 GAC
61
Southern Ark. SA 4-8,1-5 GAC
Winner
Harding Hard
8-4,4-2 GAC
76
Final
61
Southern Ark. SA
4-8,1-5 GAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harding Hard 44 32 76
Southern Ark. SA 35 26 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Harding Men's Basketball Downs SAU 76-61

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Harding improved to 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the Great American Conference with a 76-61 win over Southern Arkansas on Saturday at the Watson Athletic Center. The Bisons used a strong first half and a dominant second-half defensive performance to secure the victory.

The game was closely contested in the first half, with four ties and seven lead changes. However, Harding took control with an 8-0 run over the final 2:10 of the half, capped by a Sam Smith 3-pointer with 53 seconds left. The Bisons led 44-35 at halftime, with Smith and Wyatt Gilbert each scoring 15 points in the first half.

In the second half, Harding pulled away with a 15-4 run over a six-minute stretch, taking a 63-45 lead on Gilbert's 3-pointer with 8:05 left. The Bisons held Southern Arkansas without a field goal over the final 5:07, limiting the Muleriders to just 30% shooting (9 of 30) in the second half. Southern Arkansas also missed all nine of its 3-point attempts in the second half.

Smith led Harding with 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting, while Gilbert scored a career-high 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Rylie Marshall added 17 points, and Keyln McBride had 11 points and a team-high six assists.

Harding made all 10 of its free throw attempts. The team's 10 3-pointers were also a key factor, with Wesley Booker's 3-pointer with 4:07 left giving Harding a 70-56 lead.

The win sets up a key conference matchup for Harding on Thursday, as the Bisons host conference leader Southern Nazarene.
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